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

"Guillermo was still writing but we were gasping at all this architecture and that allowed us to visually create the film," she says.

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There were gasps from Harry's family sitting in court as Lloyd-Hall was convicted of murder.

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"I took a gasp of breath and asked if this was real," the 73-year-old, whose first game will be at home to Falkirk in the Scottish Premiership on Wednesday, told TalkSport.

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To audible gasps, Nick Mohammed later admitted at the round table that he and Joe Marler had colluded by sabotaging the final round of the chess game so that Nick's team lost.

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Local media reports on Tuesday said there were "loud gasps" when the verdict was read out in the courtroom packed with the women's supporters.

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Related Words

• choke 
• snort 
• whoop