gallop

[gal-uhp]

verb (used without object)

1. to ride a horse at a gallop; ride at full speed.

   They galloped off to meet their friends.

2. to run rapidly by leaps, as a horse; go at a gallop.

3. to go fast, race, or hurry, as a person or time.

   Synonyms: scoot, fly, speed, dash, rush, run

verb (used with object)

1. to cause (a horse or other animal) to gallop.

noun

1. a fast gait of the horse or other quadruped in which, in the course of each stride, all four feet are off the ground at once.

2. a run or ride at this gait.

3. a rapid rate of going.

4. a period of going rapidly.

gallop

/ ˈɡæləp /

verb

1. (intr) (of a horse or other quadruped) to run fast with a two-beat stride in which all four legs are off the ground at once

2. to ride (a horse, etc) at a gallop

3. (intr) to move, read, talk, etc, rapidly; hurry

noun

1. the fast two-beat gait of horses and other quadrupeds

2. an instance of galloping

Other Word Forms

• galloper noun
• outgallop verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of gallop¹

1375–1425; late Middle English galopen (v.) < Old French galoper < Frankish *wala hlaupan to run well ( well ¹, leap ) or, alternatively, verbal derivative of *walhlaup, equivalent to *wal battlefield (cognate with Old High German wal; Valkyrie ) + *hlaup run, course (derivative of the v.)

Word History and Origins

Origin of gallop¹

C16: from Old French galoper, of uncertain origin

Example Sentences

Then they begin galloping and suddenly they look powerful and sleek.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

She is a supremely balanced runner with a galloping stride, a silken swerve and the daring to put them to use on the biggest stage.

Read more on BBC

These demons gallop through the country on horseback, eagerly waging war with sanity, facts and anyone who scares them — which is pretty much the whole world.

Read more on Salon

It had been a promising start from the Lions, who galloped into a commanding lead and looked as if they were going to steamroll their opponents.

Read more on BBC

Growth galloped, but the rich became the biggest beneficiaries, growing even richer as inequality reached gaping proportions.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• amble 
• dart 
• dash 
• hurry 
• lope 
• stride 
• trot 
• zoom