gasp

UK: /ˈgɑːsp/, /ˈgæsp/ US: /gæsp/ ,(gasp, gäsp)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

gasp /gæsp/   n. 

[countable]
1. a sudden, short intake of breath, as in shock or surprise:
   a gasp of horror.
2. Physiology a struggling effort to breathe:
   gave a gasp for air.
3. a short, convulsive utterance:
   The words came out as gasps.

v. 

4. to catch one's breath:
   [no object] The audience gasped in horror.
5. Physiology to struggle for breath:
   [no object] He came out of the water and stood there gasping.
6. to say or utter while struggling for breath:
   [~ + out + object] was able to gasp out the name of his attacker.

Idioms

7. Idioms last gasp, dying moments:
   the regime's last gasp.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

gasp  (gasp, gäsp), n. 

1. a sudden, short intake of breath, as in shock or surprise.
2. Physiology a convulsive effort to breathe.
3. a short, convulsive utterance:
   the words came out in gasps.
4. Idioms last gasp, the point of death;
   dying:
   At his last gasp he confessed to the murder.

v.i. 

5. to catch one's breath.
6. Physiology to struggle for breath with the mouth open;
   breathe convulsively.
7. to long with breathless eagerness;
   desire;
   crave (usually fol. by for or after).

v.t. 

8. to utter with gasps (often fol. by out, forth, away, etc.):
   She gasped out the words.
9. to breathe or emit with gasps (often fol. by away).

• 1350–1400; Middle English gaspen, probably Old English *gāspen, equivalent. to Old Norse geispa; akin to gape

gasp′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 5, 6. puff, blow. See pant. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

gasp / ɡɑːsp/ verb

1. (intransitive) to draw in the breath sharply, convulsively, or with effort, esp in expressing awe, horror, etc
2. (intr; followed by after or for) to crave
3. (transitive) often followed by out: to utter or emit breathlessly

noun

1. a short convulsive intake of breath
2. a short convulsive burst of speech
3. at the last gasp ⇒ at the point of death
4. at the last moment

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old Norse geispa to yawn; related to Swedish dialect gispa, Danish gispe

ˈgaspingly adverb