gulf

American  

[guhlf] / gʌlf /

noun

1. a portion of an ocean or sea partly enclosed by land.

2. a deep hollow; chasm or abyss.

   Synonyms:

   split, rift, cleft, gully, gorge, canyon

3. any wide separation, as in position, status, or education.

4. something that engulfs or swallows up.

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verb (used with object)

1. to swallow up; engulf.

Gulf ¹ British  

/ ɡʌlf /

noun

1. the Persian Gulf

2. 1. the Gulf of Carpentaria

   2. (modifier) of, relating to, or adjoining the Gulf

      Gulf country

3. the Hauraki Gulf

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gulf ² British  

/ ɡʌlf /

noun

1. a large deep bay

2. a deep chasm

3. something that divides or separates, such as a lack of understanding

4. something that engulfs, such as a whirlpool

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verb

1. (tr) to swallow up; engulf

gulf Scientific  

/ gŭlf /

1. A large body of ocean or sea water that is partly surrounded by land.

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Other Word Forms

• gulflike adjective
• gulfy adjective

Etymology

Origin of gulf

1300–50; Middle English go ( u ) lf < Old French golfe < Italian golfo < Late Greek kólphos, Greek kólpos bosom, lap, bay

Example Sentences

And then there is the deep gulf in understanding and trust which leads many to be sceptical.

From BBC • Mar. 24, 2026

That gulf, between law as prescribed and as practiced, is among Mr. Loznitsa’s chief concerns.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026

In rural parts of Maharashtra state, the gulf between national headlines and reality feels stark.

From Barron's • Mar. 8, 2026

It handles a significant amount of container traffic, with gulf countries being an important hub for containers bringing consumer goods from Asia to Europe.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 7, 2026

Why this black gulf between him and the world: warm red blood here and cold blue sky there, and never a wholeness, a oneness, a meeting of the two?

From "Native Son" by Richard Wright