gag

¹ American  

[gag] / gæg /

verb (used with object)

gagged, gagging

1. to stop up the mouth of (a person) by putting something in it, thus preventing speech, shouts, etc.

2. to restrain by force or authority from freedom of speech; silence.

   Synonyms:

   suppress, stifle, curb

3. to fasten open the jaws of, as in surgical operations.

4. to cause to retch or choke.

5. Metalworking. to straighten or bend (a bar, rail, etc.) with a gag.

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verb (used without object)

gagged, gagging

1. to retch or choke.

noun

1. something put into a person's mouth to prevent speech, shouting, etc.

2. any forced or arbitrary suppression of freedom of speech.

3. a surgical instrument for holding the jaws open.

4. Metalworking. a shaped block of steel used with a press to straighten or bend a bar, rail, etc.

gag ² American  

[gag] / gæg /

noun

1. a joke, especially one introduced into a script or an actor's part.

2. any contrived piece of wordplay or horseplay.

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verb (used without object)

gagged, gagging

1. to tell jokes or make amusing remarks.

2. to introduce gags in acting.

3. to play on another's credulity, as by telling false stories.

verb (used with object)

gagged, gagging

1. to introduce usually comic interpolations into (a script, an actor's part, or the like) (usually followed byup ).

gag ³ American  

[gag] / gæg /

noun

• gag,
  plural
• gags
  plural

1. a serranid game fish, Mycteroperca microlepsis, found along the southeastern coast of the United States.

2. any of several related fishes.

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gag ¹ British  

/ ɡæɡ /

verb

1. (tr) to stop up (a person's mouth), esp with a piece of cloth, etc, to prevent him or her from speaking or crying out

2. (tr) to suppress or censor (free expression, information, etc)

3. to retch or cause to retch

4. (intr) to struggle for breath; choke

5. (tr) to hold (the jaws) of (a person or animal) apart with a surgical gag

6. (tr) to apply a gag-bit to (a horse)

7. slang to be very eager to have or do something

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noun

1. a piece of cloth, rope, etc, stuffed into or tied across the mouth

2. any restraint on or suppression of information, free speech, etc

3. a surgical device for keeping the jaws apart, as during a tonsillectomy

4. parliamentary procedure another word for closure

gag ² British  

/ ɡæɡ /

noun

1. a joke or humorous story, esp one told by a professional comedian

2. a hoax, practical joke, etc

   he did it for a gag

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verb

1. (intr) to tell jokes or funny stories, as comedians in nightclubs, etc

2. (often foll by up) theatre

   1. to interpolate lines or business not in the actor's stage part, usually comic and improvised

   2. to perform a stage jest, either spoken or based on movement

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• gag
  plural
• gags
  plural

Etymology

Origin of gag¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English gaggen “to strangle, suffocate”; perhaps imitative of the sound made in choking; compare Old Norse adjective gag-háls “with the neck thrown back”

Origin of gag²

First recorded in 1770–80; perhaps special use of gag ¹

Origin of gag³

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85; origin uncertain

Explanation

A gag is a piece of cloth that's tied around a person's face to keep them from speaking or being heard. Cartoon bad guys often tie up their victims and put gags over their mouths. To use a gag for shutting someone up is to gag them. Both the noun and verb forms of gag can also be figurative: "Her government is trying to gag her by censoring her," or "The lack of a right to free speech in some countries is a gag." Another way to gag is to retch, or begin to vomit. The root of gag is probably the Old Norse gag-hals, "with head thrown back."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

gag gags gagged gagging

And still, the gag order remains—for both of them, technically.

From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026

One night, a nearby pile of burning garbage sent plumes of smoke into the air, making her gag at the smell, she said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026

But the sight gag nature of the characterization is overworked.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026

The gag happens again, leading a blue fish to famously quip, “How many times do we have to teach you this lesson, old man?”

From Salon ● Jun. 30, 2026

Oatmeal cake was a tolerable idea, but the possibility of kipper cake made them gag.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

Worse than tired gags, we don’t get a sense of who these women really are in relationship to themselves or other women.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

There are repeated gags about Allie’s job singing covers of popular songs reworked for pharmaceutical companies and almost too many celebrity cameos.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026

More of those smart gags would have been welcome, but they peter out after half an hour or so.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026

Many of his gags cemented his genius way of blowing raspberries at power, including CBS bosses.

From Salon ● May 21, 2026

The other ogres did likewise, and shrieked through their gags as well.

From "Ella Enchanted" by Gail Carson Levine

One reason Fox’s side of the story has gone untold is that like Eatherly, Fox was gagged by Judge Poland from speaking about the case on social media or to the press.

From Slate ● Aug. 20, 2026

In South Tangerang, some pedestrians gagged and swatted at swarms of flies as they walked down littered streets.

From Barron's ● Feb. 17, 2026

Quickly, a question went to Mahan about his gagged chip shot.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 22, 2025

It and other campaign groups argue that the ban breaches the right to free speech and has gagged legitimate protest.

From BBC ● Sep. 1, 2025

Both he and Volkheimer have gagged down several mouthfuls, and Werner is not sure he can stomach any more.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr

Spitting to the required level required multiple attempts and near gagging.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

"Oh my God... I'm gagging, they did not tell me Janet was coming," Taylor exclaimed as she joined her hero on stage.

From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026

Food binds generations through shared experience, even if the first bite ends in tears or, apparently, smelt-induced gagging.

From Salon ● Dec. 14, 2025

Reading a summary of his judgment in court, Mr Justice Chamberlain said the the gagging order had "given rise to serious free speech concerns".

From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2025

I pulled off my gas-soaked sweater and jeans, choking and gagging.

From "We Were Liars" by E. Lockhart

Related Words

• hoax
• quip
• ruse
• trick
• wisecrack