: a mallet used (as by a presiding officer or auctioneer) for commanding attention or confirming an action (such as a vote or sale)
gaveled or gavelled; gaveling or gavelling
ˈga-v(ə-)liŋ 
: to bring or force by use of a gavel
gaveled the audience to silence
Examples of gavel in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 14 Jan. 2025
Mecum’s listing doesn’t list an estimate, but a seven-figure gavel price seems like.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 14 Jan. 2025
Torey Van Oot, Axios, 14 Jan. 2025
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., gavels in the joint session of Congress.
—Sarah D. Wire, USA TODAY, 4 Jan. 2025
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Noun
Former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) agreed to place a trio of conservatives on the panel as part of his negotiations to win the gavel.
—Mychael Schnell, The Hill, 14 Jan. 2025
Mecum’s listing doesn’t list an estimate, but a seven-figure gavel price seems like.
—Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 14 Jan. 2025
Verb
The Minnesota Legislature gavels in at the State Capitol on Tuesday with just over five months to strike a bipartisan budget deal and avoid a state government shutdown.
—Torey Van Oot, Axios, 14 Jan. 2025
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., gavels in the joint session of Congress.
—Sarah D. Wire, USA TODAY, 4 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for gavel
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Cite this Entry
“Gavel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gavel. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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