gab
verb (used without object)
to talk or chat idly; chatter.
gab
1 American
[gab]
/ gæb /
verb (used without object)
-
gabs,
present (3rd person singular)
-
gabbed,
past participle, past
-
gabbing
present participle
noun
gab
2
American
[gab]
/ gæb /
noun
Machinery.
gab
3
American
[gab]
/ gæb /
noun
Scot. Slang.
gab
1
British
/ ɡæb /
verb
noun
-
idle or trivial talk
-
ability to speak effortlessly, glibly, or persuasively
gab
2
British
/ 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
GAB
3
British
abbreviation
gab
Idioms
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
gabsimple
-
gabssimple
-
have gabbedperfect
-
has gabbedperfect
-
am gabbingprogressive
-
are gabbingprogressive
-
is gabbingprogressive
-
have been gabbingperfect progressive
-
has been gabbingperfect progressive
Past
-
gabbedsimple
-
had gabbedperfect
-
was gabbingprogressive
-
were gabbingprogressive
-
had been gabbingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of gab1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English noun gab, gabbe “deceit, falsehood, idle talk”; probably from Old Norse gabba “to mock”; cf. gabble
Origin of gab2
First recorded in 1790–95; origin uncertain; possibly from Dutch dialect gabbe “notch, gash”
Explanation
When you gab, you chatter on and on. You might like to gab on the phone with your friend after school. To talk and talk, especially about gossipy or trivial things, is to gab. Your dad might gab over the fence with the neighbor, and you may sit in the front of the bus so you can gab with the friendly driver. You can also describe the chatter itself as gab. The oldest meaning of gab may come from thirteenth century Scottish dialect, "to reproach," although it may in fact be rooted in the Old French gobe, "mouthful or lump."
Vocabulary lists containing gab
Talk the Talk: Synonyms for "Wordy"
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The Egypt Game
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Absolutely Normal Chaos
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Anyone who has ever watched an interview with Mr. McConaughey, or delved into his enchanting memoir “Greenlights,” is aware that listening to him gab is a treat.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
"Laurent had the good-natured gab, Simone the uncompromising discourse," French newspaper Le Monde said of the Gbagbos' political partnership.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2025
Workplaces provided easy ways to form friendships or at least gab by the water cooler—a particularly important resource in a country where 15 percent of Americans have one close friend, if any.
From Slate ● Nov. 26, 2024
They love to gab and hang out with the family.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 29, 2024
Gawaine said: “For the last time, Agravaine, will ye hold yer gab? I winna have airt nor pairt in it.”
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
“The new GAB will enable constituents, visitors and all interested parties to more easily observe and actively participate in the lawmaking process,” House Speaker Todd Gilbert said in a statement.
From Washington Times ● Aug. 30, 2023
A report from Attorney General Brad Schimel released last month faulted the GAB with poor security measures that allowed secret documents to be leaked to a newspaper.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 22, 2018
Fitzgerald on Tuesday called for an expanded investigation into former GAB workers.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 20, 2017
The GAB was established in 2007, with overwhelming bipartisan support following a major corruption scandal.
From Salon ● Jan. 9, 2016
Thou art one of the knights of France, who hold it for glee and pastime to GAB, as they term it, of exploits that are beyond human power.
From The Talisman by Sir Walter Scott
Paul puts ‘bust’ in filibuster He doesn’t make it on the list of longest Senate gabs — but reading from Twitter instead of phone books might be a first.
From Washington Post ● Mar. 8, 2013
And in an era in which Lady Gaga gabs on about subverting gender and sexuality norms, these fellows strut the strut.
From New York Times ● Aug. 1, 2012
Mark, a towering, perennially upbeat presence, relentlessly gabs away; Jay, short and bearded, lingers alongside.
From New York Times ● Jun. 11, 2010
Scarlet gabs on a phone attached to the wall, Ruby reads a book, and Carmen admires herself in the sunlight that cascades through a window.
From Slate ● May 26, 2009
Mrs. Fischer gabs about our quest to save the coyote until Ms. Andrews cuts her off.
From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz
After her first date with now-fiancé Chris about a year ago, she gabbed with Marmo like any girlfriend would.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 2, 2022
The two strangers gabbed on and on as FitzGerald turned off the highway and looped through side streets.
From Salon ● Jan. 9, 2022
As they waited for the medical team to come over, they gabbed about things on the block, who had moved where.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 18, 2021
Some people gabbed, some groused; others stood silently, forming a line that snaked around the block, waiting for Century 21, the Lower Manhattan bargain hunters’ mecca, to open for business.
From New York Times ● Sep. 10, 2020
He’d have gabbed about it all day except that Mayor Axelrod pulled him back to his duties as official photographer.
From "The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate" by Jacqueline Kelly
Every second of every day, there are stocks going up and down because nonprofessional traders are gabbing about them on Reddit and in Discord servers and group chats.
From Slate ● May 13, 2024
I’ll listen to any type of podcast as long as it’s diverting — an interview, a historical recapitulation, a true-crime saga, two pals gabbing.
From New York Times ● Jul. 30, 2022
“One of my favorite moments in every art fair is when all of the exhibitors start gabbing with each other,” Freeman said.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 13, 2022
I'm always gabbing about how much I love my kitchen scale.
From Salon ● Oct. 2, 2021
“Right now we have to get out of sight. None of this matters if they bag us while we’re gabbing in broad daylight. I’ll go out again tonight, check things out.”
From "Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
