gulp

verb

ˈgəlp 

gulped; gulping; gulps

transitive verb

1

: to swallow hurriedly or greedily or in one swallow

2

: to keep back as if by swallowing

gulp down a sob

3

: to take in readily as if by swallowing

gulp down knowledge

intransitive verb

: to catch the breath as if in taking a long drink

gulp noun

gulper noun

Synonyms

• belt (down)
• drink
• guzzle
• hoist
• imbibe
• knock back
• pound (down)
• quaff
• sip
• slug (down)
• slurp
• sup
• swig
• swill
• toss (down or off)

Examples of gulp in a Sentence

She told him not to gulp his food.

The exhausted racers lay on the ground, gulping air.

The exhausted racers were gulping for air.

I gulped nervously before beginning my speech.

“That's a lot of money,” she gulped.

He gulped back tears as he thanked the rescuers.

Recent Examples on the Web

Now revitalized, Madeline confronts Helen, who has also gulped the elixir, and wild smackdowns and realignments follow. —Frank Rizzo, Variety, 22 Nov. 2024

With its 33 Raptor engines gulping 40,000 pounds of liquid oxygen and methane fuel per second, the Super Heavy-Starship majestically climbed away to the east over the Gulf of Mexico atop a brilliant plume of white-hot flame and a churning cloud of exhaust. —William Harwood, CBS News, 19 Nov. 2024

The three of them confronting the guy — Chet, is pretty hilarious, and Paul successfully scares him into gulping in fear. —Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2024

Indeed, wine is a fundamentally a convivial beverage; it is not meant to be chugged, slammed, or gulped. —Katie Kelly Bell, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from a Middle Dutch or Middle Low German word akin to Dutch & Frisian gulpen to bubble forth, drink deep; akin to Old English gielpan to boast — more at yelp

First Known Use

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

Kids Definition

gulp

verb

ˈgəlp 

1

: to swallow hurriedly or greedily or in one swallow

2

: to keep back as if by swallowing

gulp down a sob

3

: to catch the breath as if in taking a long drink

gulp noun

gulper noun