gobble

¹

[gob-uhl]

verb (used with object)

gobbled, gobbling 

1. to swallow or eat hastily or hungrily in large pieces; gulp.

   Synonyms: devour, bolt

2. to seize upon eagerly (often followed byup ).

   After being gone for so long, they gobbled up all the local news.

verb (used without object)

gobbled, gobbling 

1. to eat hastily.

gobble

²

[gob-uhl]

verb (used without object)

gobbled, gobbling 

1. to make the characteristic throaty cry of a male turkey.

noun

1. the cry itself.

gobble

¹

/ ˈɡɒbəl /

noun

1. the loud rapid gurgling sound made by male turkeys

interjection

1. an imitation of this sound

verb

1. (intr) (of a turkey) to make this sound

gobble

²

/ ˈɡɒbəl /

verb

1. to eat or swallow (food) hastily and in large mouthfuls

2. informal,  to snatch

Word History and Origins

Origin of gobble¹

1595–1605; probably imitative; gob ¹, -le

Origin of gobble²

First recorded in 1670–80; variant of gabble

Word History and Origins

Origin of gobble¹

C17: probably of imitative origin

Origin of gobble²

C17: probably from _gob ¹

Example Sentences

During the 19th century, Harvard, Yale, Princeton and Penn gobbled up three decades of national championships.

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Jackrabbits or other critters that need the water encased in the plant often gobble them up.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Quasars are supermassive black holes that actively gobble up matter like gas and dust from their surroundings.

Read more on Space Scoop

Leonard said the server farms are also gobbling up much of the renewable energy like wind and solar that is being added to the grid.

Read more on Barron's

The cake was cut into slices and gobbled up without delay.

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Related Words

• devour 
• gulp 
• guzzle 
• swallow