choke up
phrasal verb
choked up; choking up; chokes up
1
: to have trouble talking because of crying or strong emotion
He chokes up whenever he tries to talk about the accident.
2
baseball
: to move one's hands to a higher position on a baseball bat
—often + on
He choked up on the bat and took a short swing.
Examples of choke up in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
At a news conference later Thursday, an emotional Pritzker choked up while again extending his sympathies.
—
Kate Reilly, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025
Roaldi choked up when recalling that fun night.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 23 Oct. 2025
Afterward, Napier choked up the first time he was asked about his future, then declined to look beyond enjoying a celebratory postgame dinner with his family.
—Matt Baker, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Jimmy Kimmel chokes up over Charlie Kirk's widow Erika in emotional monologue.
—Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for choke up
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Kate Reilly, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025
Roaldi choked up when recalling that fun night.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 23 Oct. 2025
Afterward, Napier choked up the first time he was asked about his future, then declined to look beyond enjoying a celebratory postgame dinner with his family.
—Matt Baker, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
Jimmy Kimmel chokes up over Charlie Kirk's widow Erika in emotional monologue.
—Rebecca Morin, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for choke up
Cite this Entry
“Choke up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/choke%20up. Accessed 27 Oct. 2025.
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