bloat

1 of 3

adjective

bloat

2 of 3

verb

bloated; bloating; bloats

transitive verb

1
a
: to make turgid or swollen
b
: to cause abdominal distension in
2
: to fill to capacity or overflowing

bloat

3 of 3

noun

1
a
: one that is bloated
b
: unwarranted or excessive growth or enlargement
bureaucratic bloat
2
: digestive disturbance of ruminant animals and especially cattle marked by accumulation of gas in one or more stomach compartments
3
: a condition of large dogs marked by distension and usually life-threatening rotation of the stomach

Examples of bloat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Images Beets are another potassium-rich food, which can help counteract sodium in your body, and therefore bloat. Colleen De Bellefonds, Women's Health, 30 June 2023 White House Plumbers thus tells a clear, coherent story about a famous event in American history, and at just five episodes there's not much bloat to complain of (though it probably could've been made as a movie in an earlier era). Christian Holub, EW.com, 28 Apr. 2023 An all-natural supplement that eliminates belly bloat and soothes abdominal discomfort is also a smart choice. Katie James Watkinson, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Feb. 2023
Verb
Simon added that krill oil can sometimes cause gastrointestinal symptoms, such as bloating, nausea, diarrhea, gas, and heartburn. Stephanie Brown, Verywell Health, 5 Mar. 2024 Nausea can happen on its own or occur with other symptoms like heartburn, bloating, and belching.4 Frequent nausea may be a sign of GERD or other health conditions. Mark Gurarie, Health, 15 Feb. 2024 How to reduce bloating Lifestyle changes can help to prevent bloating from happening in the first place. Erica Lamberg, Fox News, 8 Feb. 2024 Perfect for reducing bloating after a way-too-fun night out. Erin Michelle Newberg, Miami Herald, 30 Jan. 2024 Budget troubles and tax changes After two years of federal pandemic aid bloating Maryland’s balance sheets, the state faces a shortfall expected to widen to more than $2.8 billion annually in five years — largely driven by a sweeping education program adopted in 2021 without a plan to pay for it. Katie Shepherd, Washington Post, 10 Jan. 2024 People living with irritable bowel syndrome experience abdominal pain, bloating and abnormal bowel habits. Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 20 Feb. 2024 Though fiber is generally safe, consuming too much may cause bloating, discomfort, and gas. Julia Ries, Health, 14 Jan. 2024 Although the parasite typically lives there without causing harm, some people may experience symptoms like diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, bloating, weight loss, fatigue and loss of appetite. Vanessa Etienne, Peoplemag, 5 Jan. 2024
Noun
Goldstein: So what are the consequences, in a commercial environment, of bloat, besides— are there things beyond security? Stephen Cass, IEEE Spectrum, 6 Mar. 2024 Avoiding chewing gum will also go some way in reducing bloat, which mainly happens in this case when swallowing air. Olivia Morelli, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Oct. 2023 From a filmmaking standpoint in the cinematography department, there's a lot of bloat in big-budget filmmaking. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 6 Oct. 2023 Then you’re stuck trying to figure out how to implement something that has bloat, that doesn’t have enough on foundational skills, whatever. Natalie Wexler, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 Many colleges and universities now operate like small cities, and some critics say that's led to administrative bloat. Carter Evans, CBS News, 21 Feb. 2024 Part of the bloat stems from Fielder's penchant for luxuriating in moments of awkwardness, steeping the viewer in their own discomfort long after most shows — even most cringe comedies — would have mercifully cut away. EW.com, 6 Nov. 2023 The staff-to-faculty ratio has soared over the past few years, and that’s bad bloat. Brian T. Allen, National Review, 11 Jan. 2024 Injecting these domestic political agendas into already complex national-security requirements will only lead to greater delays, bloat, and cynicism. Daniel Foster, National Review, 30 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bloat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English blout, blote soft, pliable, from Old Norse blautr soft, weak; akin to Old English blēat miserable

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1677, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1836, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of bloat was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near bloat

Cite this Entry

“Bloat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bloat. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

bloat

verb
ˈblōt
: to swell by filling with or as if with water or air : puff up

Medical Definition

bloat

1 of 2 transitive verb
: to make turgid:
a
: to produce edema in
b
: to cause or result in accumulation of gas in the digestive tract of
cucumbers sometimes bloat me
c
: to cause abdominal distension in

intransitive verb

: to become turgid

bloat

2 of 2 noun
1
: a digestive disturbance of ruminant animals and especially cattle marked by accumulation of gas in one or more stomach compartments
2
a
: a condition of large dogs marked by distension and usually life-threatening rotation of the stomach
b
: any flatulent digestive disturbance of domestic animals
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