gasp
a sudden, short intake of breath, as in shock or surprise.
a convulsive effort to breathe.
a short, convulsive utterance: the words came out in gasps.
to catch one's breath.
to struggle for breath with the mouth open; breathe convulsively.
to long with breathless eagerness; desire; crave (usually followed by for or after).
to utter with gasps (often followed by out, forth, away, etc.): She gasped out the words.
to breathe or emit with gasps (often followed by away).
Idioms about gasp
last gasp, the point of death; dying: At his last gasp he confessed to the murder.
Origin of gasp
1synonym study For gasp
Other words for gasp
Other words from gasp
- gasp·ing·ly, adverb
Words Nearby gasp
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use gasp in a sentence
Enjoying the rest of a remote summerThe prospect of returning to cubicle life means employees are seizing their last gasps of life outside the office.
Media Briefing: Delta variant disrupts media companies’ office return timelines, employees’ preparations | Tim Peterson | August 5, 2021 | DigidayIn the hours to months after the impact, we share this behemoth’s last steps, its final gasps.
A new book reveals stories of ancient life written in North America’s rocks | Alka Tripathy-Lang | August 3, 2021 | Science NewsWe haven’t been really given any sense of reality, and so that nostalgia becomes a reason to do these things… They see this as like the last gasp of a troll.
‘Revenge Tactic:’ GameStop's Massive Stock Surge Isn't Only About Making Money | Peter Allen Clark | January 28, 2021 | TimeWe’re nearing the frustratingly slow, but sure, dying gasp of Covid-19.
2020 in Neuroscience, Longevity, and AI—and What’s to Come | Shelly Fan | December 22, 2020 | Singularity HubEverything was silent except for the rhythmic friction of skis on snow and our gasps of exhaustion.
The quest to snare—and save—the world’s largest owl | Jonathan Slaght | August 28, 2020 | Popular-Science
And in a big departure from established royal protocol, Prince George might even get a—gasp—present to open on Christmas Day.
The virgin birth is mentioned in the...what...gasp...Koran?!
There was a collective gasp at both the four-letter word and the bitter sentiment it carried.
How Richard Pryor Beat Bill Cosby and Transformed America | David Yaffe, Scott Saul | December 10, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTI am lucky on Secret Six to have an editor, Mark Doyle, who agrees, we want people to gasp out loud.
Gail Simone’s Bisexual Catman and the ‘Secret Six’ | Rich Goldstein | December 6, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTTo be clear, I was not treading anywhere near the even more incomprehensible realm of (gasp) relationship definition.
With a suffocating gasp, she fell back into the chair on which she sat, and covered her face with her hands.
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane PorterShe gave a sudden gasp, and then she appeared to be deeply interested in the gold fish in the fountain.
The Weight of the Crown | Fred M. WhiteWith a gasp of dismay young Richard twisted in his chair to confront this fresh and unsuspected antagonist.
Mistress Wilding | Rafael SabatiniWith a gasp she felt herself falling straight down through a swirling vortex of sensation, to the very sand-bed of the stream.
The Dragon Painter | Mary McNeil FenollosaJimmy says the way his bloodhound had worked it all out made even Jones minimus gasp.
British Dictionary definitions for gasp
/ (ɡɑːsp) /
(intr) to draw in the breath sharply, convulsively, or with effort, esp in expressing awe, horror, etc
(intr; foll by after or for) to crave
(tr often foll by out) to utter or emit breathlessly
a short convulsive intake of breath
a short convulsive burst of speech
at the last gasp
at the point of death
at the last moment
Origin of gasp
1Derived forms of gasp
- gaspingly, adverb
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with gasp
see last gasp.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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