gasp
verb /ɡɑːsp/
/ɡæsp/
Verb Forms
| present simple I / you / we / they gasp | /ɡɑːsp/ /ɡæsp/ |
| he / she / it gasps | /ɡɑːsps/ /ɡæsps/ |
| past simple gasped | /ɡɑːspt/ /ɡæspt/ |
| past participle gasped | /ɡɑːspt/ /ɡæspt/ |
| -ing form gasping | /ˈɡɑːspɪŋ/ /ˈɡæspɪŋ/ |
- [intransitive, transitive] to take a quick deep breath with your mouth open, especially because you are surprised or in pain
- gasp (at something) She gasped at the wonderful view.
- They gasped in astonishment at the news.
- + speech ‘What was that noise?’ he gasped.
Extra ExamplesTopics Feelingsc1- The cold made her gasp.
- Denis almost gasped aloud in astonishment.
- She gasped at his boldness.
- She was gasping with pain.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- almost
- suddenly
- aloud
- …
- make somebody
- manage to
- at
- in
- with
- …
- gasp for air
- gasp for breath
- leave somebody gasping
- …
- [intransitive, transitive] to have difficulty breathing or speaking
- gasp (for something) He came to the surface of the water gasping for air.
- gasp (something) (out) She managed to gasp out her name.
- + speech ‘Can't breathe,’ he gasped.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- almost
- suddenly
- aloud
- …
- make somebody
- manage to
- at
- in
- with
- …
- gasp for air
- gasp for breath
- leave somebody gasping
- …
- be gasping (for something) [intransitive] (British English, informal) to want or need something very badly, especially a drink or a cigarette
Word Originlate Middle English: from Old Norse geispa ‘to yawn’.