Gulp

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Gulp

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

verb and noun

Pronunciation

gulp  /ɡʌlp/

Definition

As a verb: to swallow food or drink hurriedly or with difficulty, especially in large mouthfuls; to make a swallowing motion when nervous or frightened. As a noun: an act of swallowing; a large mouthful of drink or food.

Plain meaning

To gulp means to swallow quickly and greedily — a big mouthful taken in a hurry. Gulping can also describe the reflexive swallowing that happens when you're frightened or nervous.

Register

Informal and everyday. Gulp is a vivid, physical, onomatopoeic word for a very common human action. It is not used in formal writing. Gulp as an exclamation — the gulp! of alarm in comics and informal speech — is distinctly informal and slightly humorous.