gasp
gasp Lexical Profile
gasp Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To inhale suddenly and sharply with the mouth open, out of shock, surprise, or pain.
"The audience gasped in amazement as the acrobat completed the triple somersault."
To breathe convulsively or with great difficulty, especially due to physical exertion or lack of air.
"After sprinting up the steep hill, the runners stood at the summit and gasped for air."
To utter words in a breathless, convulsive, or strained manner.
"The exhausted messenger gasped out the urgent news before collapsing into a chair."
• noun
A sudden, short intake of breath through the mouth, typically caused by shock, pain, or exhaustion.
"A collective gasp echoed through the theater when the magician vanished from the stage."
• Rhymes for gasp
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in Middle English from Old Norse geispa ('to yawn'), a frequentative form related to gapa ('to gape' or 'to open the mouth wide').