retch

American  

[rech] / rɛtʃ /

verb (used without object)

1. to make efforts to vomit.

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verb (used with object)

1. to vomit.

noun

1. the act or an instance of retching.

retch British  

/ riːtʃ, rɛtʃ /

verb

1. (intr) to undergo an involuntary spasm of ineffectual vomiting; heave

2. to vomit

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noun

1. an involuntary spasm of ineffectual vomiting

Etymology

Origin of retch

1540–50; variant of reach, Old English hrǣc an to clear the throat (not recorded in ME), derivative of hrāca a clearing of the throat; compare Old Norse hrǣkja to hawk, spit

Explanation

To retch is to gag, or nearly vomit. The smell of a passing garbage truck on a hot summer day might make you retch. Sometimes, retch is used to literally mean "throw up," but it usually means to come very close to throwing up without actually vomiting. You might retch because you're sick, or when you have to eat something you hate, like overcooked cauliflower. Retch is also a noun: "When I heard the retch from the bathroom, I knew he'd caught that stomach bug." Originally, to retch meant "to clear the throat."

Example Sentences

“For nearly 250 years, Mary has played a distinct role in our great American story,” Trump declared, offering a brief Catholic history of the United States that would’ve made this country’s Puritan forefathers retch.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 11, 2025

His mum Dawn Kafi, from Liverpool, said food made him retch and gag.

From BBC • Jan. 18, 2022

We retch, say “yuck”, and back off to protect ourselves from exposure to them and their disease-laden possibilities.

From The Guardian • Nov. 19, 2019

But they’re also 4-3 against the three worst teams in the Eastern Conference, and if you didn’t retch a little during that double-digit loss in Atlanta, your stomach is stronger than mine.

From Washington Post • Jan. 18, 2018

The thought of it made her want to retch, but her body had nothing to give.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

Related Words

• breathe
• exhale
• groan
• huff
• puff
• spew
• vomit