gasp

[gasp, gahsp]

noun

1. a sudden, short intake of breath, as in shock or surprise.

2. a convulsive effort to breathe.

3. a short, convulsive utterance.

   the words came out in gasps.

verb (used without object)

1. to catch one's breath.

   Synonyms: blow, puff

2. to struggle for breath with the mouth open; breathe convulsively.

   Synonyms: blow, puff

3. to long with breathless eagerness; desire; crave (usually followed by for orafter ).

verb (used with object)

1. to utter with gasps (often followed by out, forth, away, etc.).

   She gasped out the words.

2. to breathe or emit with gasps (often followed byaway ).

gasp

/ ɡɑːsp /

verb

1. (intr) to draw in the breath sharply, convulsively, or with effort, esp in expressing awe, horror, etc

2. (intr; foll by after or for) to crave

3. to utter or emit breathlessly

noun

1. a short convulsive intake of breath

2. a short convulsive burst of speech

3. 1. at the point of death

   2. at the last moment

Other Word Forms

• gaspingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of gasp¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English gaspen, probably Old English *gāspen, equivalent to Old Norse geispa; akin to gape

Word History and Origins

Origin of gasp¹

C14: from Old Norse geispa to yawn; related to Swedish dialect gispa, Danish gispe

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. last gasp, the point of death; dying.

   At his last gasp he confessed to the murder.

see last gasp.

Synonym Study

See pant ¹.

Example Sentences

For months, Jessica Newman has jolted awake gasping in the darkness at 5 a.m., just as she did on Jan. 8.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

I’ll pause here for general gasping and shrieking, and murmurs of, “Wait, there’s a dividend?”

Read more on Barron's

Her eyes fluttered; with a gasp she fell upon a nearby settee.

Read more on Literature

“I did not even know chickens could fly,” she gasped.

Read more on Literature

The darkness was sudden and so complete it made Penelope gasp; it was as if someone had thrown a bag over her head.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• choke 
• snort 
• whoop