gulp

B2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /ɡʌlp/ See IPA manual

Freq #17626

Meanings

1

verb
To swallow food or drink quickly in large amounts.

The men gulped down their beers and left.
2

noun
A large, quick swallow of food or drink.

She drank the water in one big gulp.
3

verb
To swallow nervously, often because of fear.

He gulped when he saw how high the bridge was.
4

intj
Used to show a nervous or frightened reaction.

You want me to give the speech? Gulp!

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to swallow food or drink... quaff swig imbibe

2 noun · a large, quick swallow of... draft

4 intj · used to show a nervous or... ulp

Word family

Forms gulpedgulpinggulps

Derived forms gulpablegulpergulpfulgulpinglygulpygurpungulped

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

single gulp
one large, quick act of swallowing

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From Middle English gulpen, probably from West Flemish or Middle Dutch gulpen, golpen, of uncertain origin. Perhaps of imitative origin, or related to Dutch galpen (“to roar, squeal”), English galp, gaup (“to gape”). Related to German Low German gulpen (“to gush out, belch, gulp”), West Frisian gjalpe, gjalpje, gjealpje (“to gush, spurt forth”), Danish gulpe, gylpe (“to gulp up, disgorge”), dialectal Swedish glapa (“to gulp down”), Old English galpettan (“to gulp down, eat greedily, devour”). More at galp.

gulpen Middle Dutch

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# gulp

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** verb, noun, intj
**IPA (US):** /ɡʌlp/
**Frequency rank:** 17626

## Meanings
1. To swallow food or drink quickly in large amounts.
2. A large, quick swallow of food or drink.
3. To swallow nervously, often because of fear.
4. Used to show a nervous or frightened reaction.

## Examples
- The men gulped down their beers and left.
- She drank the water in one big gulp.
- He gulped when he saw how high the bridge was.
- You want me to give the speech? Gulp!

## Derived Forms
- gulpable
- gulper
- gulpful
- gulpingly
- gulpy
- gurp
- ungulped

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: gulpen

## Etymology
From Middle English gulpen, probably from West Flemish or Middle Dutch gulpen, golpen, of uncertain origin. Perhaps of imitative origin, or related to Dutch galpen (“to roar, squeal”), English galp, gaup (“to gape”). Related to German Low German gulpen (“to gush out, belch, gulp”), West Frisian gjalpe, gjalpje, gjealpje (“to gush, spurt forth”), Danish gulpe, gylpe (“to gulp up, disgorge”), dialectal Swedish glapa (“to gulp down”), Old English galpettan (“to gulp down, eat greedily, devour”). More at galp.

## AI Etymology
Gulp comes from Middle English gulpen, probably from West Flemish or Middle Dutch gulpen, golpen, of uncertain origin. Perhaps of imitative origin, or related to Dutch galpen (“to roar, squeal”), English galp, gaup (“to gape”). Related to German Low German gulpen (“to gush out, belch, gulp”), West Frisian gjalpe, gjalpje, gjealpje (“to gush, spurt forth”), Danish gulpe, gylpe (“to gulp up, disgorge”), dialectal Swedish glapa (“to gulp down”), Old English galpettan (“to gulp down, eat greedily, devour”). More at galp. In current use, the main senses are “To swallow food or drink quickly in large amounts” and “A large, quick swallow of food or drink”.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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