gab

[ gab ]

/ gæb /

Informal.

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See synonyms for: gab / gabbing / gabber on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object), gabbed, gab·bing.

to talk or chat idly; chatter.

noun

idle talk; chatter.

OTHER WORDS FOR gab

1 chitchat, gossip, visit; yak, rap, schmooze.

See synonyms for gab on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

SHALL WE PLAY A "SHALL" VS. "SHOULD" CHALLENGE?

Should you take this quiz on “shall” versus “should”? It should prove to be a quick challenge!

Question 1 of 6

Which form is used to state an obligation or duty someone has?

shall

should

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of gab

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English noun gab, gabbe “deceit, falsehood, idle talk”; probably from Old Norse gabba “to mock”; cf. gabble

OTHER WORDS FROM gab

gabber, noun

Words nearby gab

G77, G8, G9, Ga, GAA, gab, GABA, GABA-alpha, Gabaon, Gabaonite, gabapentin

Other definitions for gab (2 of 3)

gab²

[ gab ]

/ gæb /

noun Machinery.

a hook or fork that engages temporarily with a moving rod or lever.

Origin of gab

First recorded in 1790–95; origin uncertain; possibly from Dutch dialect gabbe “notch, gash”

Other definitions for gab (3 of 3)

gab³

[ gab ]

/ gæb /

noun Scot. Slang.

gob³.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use gab in a sentence

It’s no secret that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s gift of the gab is a point of pride.
Dashing Democrats’ Hopes, Manchin Calls Build Back Better ‘Dead’|Philip Elliott|February 2, 2022|Time
His gift of the gab and absence of shame were mocked mercilessly but also given deference because they could fund a viable campaign in the span of hours.
Congress Holds the Key to the Virginia Governor's Race|Philip Elliott|October 20, 2021|Time
Maybe they had a little gab while being blipped for five years with the other Avengers.
WandaVision’s series finale sets up the future of Wanda and the MCU|Alex Abad-Santos|March 5, 2021|Vox
Because this is my book,” Kibbe writes, he decided to “mash up” the conversations into an “imaginary gab fest.
Why The Tea Party Won’t Go Away And More Wisdom From Matt Kibbe|Michael Signer|April 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST

In our interview, Moreno is effervescent and irreverent, with a genuine gift of the gab.
Rita Moreno, SAG Life Achievement Award Winner, Talks Brando, Elvis And West Side Story|Sandra McElwaine|January 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She apologizes profusely, curls up across from me, and begins to, as she calls it, gab.
'Daily Show' Creator Lizz Winstead Is the Queen of Calling Bullshit|Caitlin Dickson|December 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
But the millennium saw the last of the truly fat rappers: Gift of Gab, J-Live, Bone Crusher, and Fatman Scoop.
Where Have All the Fat Rappers Gone? Or, How Hip-Hop Lost All the Weight.|Emilia Petrarca|August 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The Gift of Gab, the only original member of Blackalicious present, is twice as big as Big Boi but only half as well known.
Where Have All the Fat Rappers Gone? Or, How Hip-Hop Lost All the Weight.|Emilia Petrarca|August 28, 2013|DAILY BEAST
If he could have barked, his meaning would have carried more convincingly, but he "hauded 'is gab" loyally.
Greyfriars Bobby|Eleanor Atkinson
Some persons start their gab carburetors, and they talk and talk mechanically, without any effort spent in thinking.
Think|Col. Wm. C. Hunter
Another interest was what he called with pretended scorn, "Gregg's gab-fests."
Rough-Hewn|Dorothy Canfield
"The gift of the gab" was one, and "He'd argue black was white" another.
Peccavi|E. W. Hornung
Nine-tenths of the Victorian members possess at least the gift of the gab.
Town Life in Australia|R. E. N. (Richard) Twopeny

British Dictionary definitions for gab (1 of 3)

gab¹

/ (ɡæb) informal /

verb gabs, gabbing or gabbed

(intr) to talk excessively or idly, esp about trivial matters; gossip; chatter

noun

idle or trivial talk

gift of the gab ability to speak effortlessly, glibly, or persuasively

Derived forms of gab

gabber, noun

Word Origin for gab

C18: variant of Northern dialect gob mouth, probably from Irish Gaelic gob beak, mouth

British Dictionary definitions for gab (2 of 3)

gab²

/ (ɡæb) /

noun

a hook or open notch in a rod or lever that drops over the spindle of a valve to form a temporary connection for operating the valve

a pointed tool used in masonry

Word Origin for gab

C18: probably from Flemish gabbe notch, gash

British Dictionary definitions for gab (3 of 3)

GAB

abbreviation for

Gabon (international car registration)

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with gab

gab

see gift of gab.

gab

OTHER WORDS FOR gab

Origin of gab

OTHER WORDS FROM gab

Words nearby gab

Other definitions for gab (2 of 3)

Origin of gab

Other definitions for gab (3 of 3)

Words related to gab

How to use gab in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for gab (1 of 3)

Derived forms of gab

Word Origin for gab

British Dictionary definitions for gab (2 of 3)

Word Origin for gab

British Dictionary definitions for gab (3 of 3)

Other Idioms and Phrases with gab