gut

1 of 4

noun

1
a
: bowels, entrails
usually used in plural
fish guts
b
: digestive tract
also : part of the digestive tract and especially the intestine or stomach
c
d
: catgut
2
guts plural : the inner essential parts
the guts of a car
3
guts plural : fortitude and stamina in coping with what alarms, repels, or discourages : courage, pluck
had the guts to run for public office
4
: the basic visceral, emotional, or instinctual part of a person
She knew in her gut that he was lying.
Consult more than one financial adviser before making a final choice, and trust your gut.Quentin Fottrell
My gut says this is, overall, a terrible idea.Erica Buist
often used before another noun
making a gut decision
a gut feeling
"Tony's a very driven guy, and he makes a lot of decisions based on gut instinct," …Tom Nides
5
: a narrow passage
also : a narrow waterway or small creek
6
: the sac of silk taken from a silkworm ready to spin its cocoon and drawn out into a thread for use as a snell
7

gut

2 of 4

adjective

1
: arising from one's inmost self : visceral
a gut reaction
2
: having strong impact or immediate relevance
gut issues

gut

3 of 4

verb

gutted; gutting

transitive verb

1
b
: to extract all the essential passages or portions from
2
a
: to destroy the inside of
fire gutted the building
b
: to destroy the essential power or effectiveness of
inflation gutting the economy

GUT

4 of 4

abbreviation

grand unified theory; grand unification theory
Phrases
gut it out

Examples of gut in a Sentence

Noun the guts of the fish the guts of a machine the guts of a business deal That decision took a lot of guts. I didn't have the guts to do it. Verb The salmon is already gutted and filleted. Critics claim that these reforms will gut the law.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Vulnerability isn’t about spilling your guts or exposing your every fear. Krystyna Larrave, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024 One reason that happens is that exercise decreases blood flow to your gut, causing short-term damage to your intestines. Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs): These are produced when gut microbiota ferments (breaks down) carbohydrates in plant foods. Johna Burdeos, Health, 20 Oct. 2024 So Van Tyne and her team looked to a source that’s teeming with gut bacteria: wastewater. Emily Mullin, WIRED, 14 Feb. 2024
Verb
Will Baker Mayfield and the Bucs gut out an upset win at Arrowhead Stadium? David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024 These are people who could use their skills for the good of humankind and seem to concentrate on something that will gut the future of existing programmers and someday now-in-training software developers. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for gut 

Word History

Etymology

Noun, Adjective, and Verb

Middle English, from Old English guttas, plural; probably akin to Old English gēotan to pour

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Adjective

1964, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of gut was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near gut

Cite this Entry

“Gut.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gut. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

gut

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: entrails, viscera
usually used in plural
b
: the alimentary canal or part of it (as the intestine or stomach)
2
plural : the inner essential parts
3
plural : courage

gut

2 of 2 verb
gutted; gutting
1
: to remove the entrails from
scale and gut a fish
2
: to destroy the inside of
fire gutted the building

Medical Definition

gut

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: digestive tract
also : part of the digestive tract and especially the intestine or stomach
the mix of bacteria making up the flora of the gut W. E. Leary
b
: abdomen sense 1a, belly
usually used in plural
not often in formal use
his huge gut hung far below his beltL. M. Uris
2
: catgut

gut

2 of 2 transitive verb
gutted; gutting
: to take out the bowels of : eviscerate

More from Merriam-Webster on gut

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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