gull
1 Americannoun
verb (used with object)
noun
noun
verb
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
gullsimple
-
gullssimple
-
have gulledperfect
-
has gulledperfect
-
am gullingprogressive
-
are gullingprogressive
-
is gullingprogressive
-
have been gullingperfect progressive
-
has been gullingperfect progressive
Past
-
gulledsimple
-
had gulledperfect
-
was gullingprogressive
-
were gullingprogressive
-
had been gullingperfect progressive
Future
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.
Indian skipper Shubman Gull was caught by wicketkeeper Josh Philippe off Nathan Ellis for 10 before the first rain delay, with India 23-3 after 8.5 overs.
From Barron's • Oct. 19, 2025
Gull populations are in decline, with several species on the UK red list of conservation concern.
From BBC • Feb. 21, 2025
“The Gull Guide: North America” is a book for people who agree that gulls deserve better than their unflattering reputation.
From Salon • Nov. 16, 2024
“Motorists have been turning up and unable to get fuel,” said Julien Leys, a spokesman for Gull New Zealand, one of the companies whose gas pumps malfunctioned.
From New York Times • Feb. 29, 2024
You could imagine the Brown Pelican standing over the Black-Backed Gull at the moment when the gull most needed him and saying that maybe the sky won’t be lost after all.
From "Okay for Now" by Gary D. Schmidt
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.
