gull
1 Americannoun
verb (used with object)
noun
noun
verb
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of gull1
1400–50; late Middle English gulle, perhaps < Welsh gŵylan, Cornish guilan (compare French goéland < Breton gwelan )
Origin of gull2
First recorded in 1540–50; perhaps akin to obsolete gull to swallow, guzzle
Explanation
You know those birds that hang out by the ocean, and grab your sandwich if you aren't paying attention? Those are gulls, also known as sea gulls. Gulls are found in every continent, including Antarctica. The noun gull has two very distinct definitions. Gulls are shore birds, of course, but lesser-used meaning of the word is "a person who is easy to fool." Your little brother might be a gull if you can trick him into doing your chores along with his own. You may know the related word gullible, which describes a willingness to believe anything, without questioning whether it is true.
Vocabulary lists containing gull
A Vocabulary Bestiary: Animals That Behave as Verbs
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Much Ado About Nothing
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Twelfth Night
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Birds including the curlew, nightjar, dipper, lesser black-backed gull and red grouse are also named.
From BBC • Apr. 27, 2026
The incident unfolded when the low-flying gull got caught in the path of a clearance kick by Istanbul Yurdum Spor's goalkeeper during an amateur playoff match against Mevlanakapi Guzelhisar, a club official told AFP Tuesday.
From Barron's • Feb. 24, 2026
Earlier in 2024, scientists detected H5N1 in a kelp gull and two skuas that were found dead in January and February.
From Science Daily • Feb. 12, 2026
McQuilkin said the struggling gull population reflects broader ecological problems.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 4, 2025
The geese touched down beside the gull, and Brightbill said, “I was told you know where to find a robot named Roz.”
From "The Wild Robot Protects" by Peter Brown
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
