gut

1 of 4

noun

ˈgət 

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

: belly, abdomen

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 course

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

a

: eviscerate

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

: persevere

Synonyms

Noun

• entrails
• innards
• inside(s)
• inwards
• viscera
• vitals

Verb

• clean
• disembowel
• draw
• eviscerate

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

Noun

Soluble fiber supports a healthy gut microbiome, and insoluble fiber helps maintain regular bowel movements. —Anna Meyer, Cpt, Health, 16 Oct. 2024

How to Support Bacteria in the Gut The gut is home to both good and bad bacteria that, when in balance, help maintain overall gut health and the health of the human body. —Angelica Bottaro, Verywell Health, 13 Oct. 2024

Adjective

So Van Tyne and her team looked to a source that’s teeming with gut bacteria: wastewater. —Emily Mullin, WIRED, 14 Feb. 2024

Emerging evidence suggests that individuals with fibromyalgia may have alterations in their gut microbiota composition. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 27 June 2023

Verb

Freeman, playing in obvious pain at times, has been trying to gut it out anyway. —Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 18 Oct. 2024

Fiber is in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, and legumes and is essential to gut health.4 Soluble fiber absorbs water in the digestive tract and forms a gel-like substance that helps to move stool through your digestive system. —Anna Meyer, Cpt, Health, 16 Oct. 2024

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

Phrases Containing gut

• beer gut
• blind gut
• bust a/one's gut
• gut check
• gut course
• gut it out
• gut-wrenching

Kids Definition

gut

1 of 2 noun

ˈgət 

1

a

: entrails, viscera

—usually used in plural

b

: the alimentary canal or part of it (as the intestine or stomach)

c

: abdomen sense 1, belly

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

ˈgət 

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 belt

—L. M. Uris

2

: catgut

gut

2 of 2 transitive verb

gutted; gutting

: to take out the bowels of : eviscerate