gulp

American  

[guhlp] / gʌlp /

verb (used without object)

1. to gasp or choke, as when taking large drafts of a liquid.

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verb (used with object)

1. to swallow eagerly, or in large drafts or morsels (often followed bydown ).

   He gulps down his food like a starving man.

   Synonyms:

   guzzle, devour, bolt, quaff, gobble, wolf

2. to suppress, subdue, or choke back as if by swallowing.

   to gulp down a sob.

noun

1. the act of gulping.

   He drank the whole bottle of beer in one gulp.

2. the amount swallowed at one time; mouthful.

gulp British  

/ ɡʌlp /

verb

1. to swallow rapidly, esp in large mouthfuls

   to gulp down food

2. to stifle or choke

   to gulp back sobs

3. (intr) to swallow air convulsively, as while drinking, because of nervousness, surprise, etc

4. (intr) to make a noise, as when swallowing too quickly

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noun

1. the act of gulping

2. the quantity taken in a gulp

Other Word Forms

• gulper noun
• gulpingly adverb
• gulpy adjective

Etymology

Origin of gulp

1400–50; late Middle English gulpen (v.); compare Dutch gulpen, Norwegian glupa

Explanation

To gulp is to loudly and quickly swallow food, drink, or air. You might gulp nervously before you stand up to make a speech. When you gulp down your breakfast so you can run and catch your bus, or gulp air upon rising to the surface of a swimming pool, you can say you take a gulp — or many gulps. The word dates from the 1300s, but its origin is somewhat uncertain. Most experts link it to the imitative Dutch gulpen, "to gush, guzzle, or swallow."

Example Sentences

Elon Musk took a gulp of water on stage at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland last month and started talking up one of his latest passions: data centers orbiting Earth.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026

Instead, something like this could happen: Maybe a raw milk drinker will gulp down some bird flu virus.

From Slate • Dec. 4, 2024

"I did see him surface and I think he took a gulp, and then I thought I saw him being thrown in the air," she said.

From BBC • Sep. 25, 2024

She fell silent for a moment on the telephone, taking a gulp of air.

From Salon • Sep. 5, 2024

I took another gulp of water, then a tiny sip of hot chocolate.

From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows

Related Words

• consume
• gobble
• guzzle
• imbibe
• inhale
• quaff
• swallow
• swig
• swill