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to choke

to choke

356 3.7
To be unable to breathe because something blocks the throat or neck
  • verb
  • /tʃoʊk/
  • NSFW
: atragantarse
  • First I was eating, then I was choking, and then I could breathe again.
  • throats are choked
  • choking the city
  • hitting and choking

On six different occasions, you've choked your wife to unconsciousness.

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Examples

  • Again, I began to choke and almost panic, but we ducked into a driveway.

    Academic text (2001)
  • Don't choke on the dust.

  • What good will religion do if we begin to choke on the air we breathe?

    Academic text (1993)
  • I truly believe the guy felt he was smothered, choked, unable to get his wind.

  • In the elevator, Sarah and John are choking, handing the breathing mask back and forth desperately.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Settlements and overgrazing upstream had choked off the river only a few generations past.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • He suddenly began to choke on a piece of meat during dinner.

  • She almost choked when the dust from the construction site blew into her face.

  • The boy started to choke on his toy as he accidentally swallowed it.

Synonyms

to strangle
vsto choke
  • Offensive
223 6.2

To kill or injure someone by squeezing their throat and stopping breathing

also covers simple airway or liquid blockages not only neck pressure
to choke on
vsto choke
91 3.4

To have trouble breathing because food gets stuck in the throat

also covers neck squeezing and blockages of air or liquid flow
to suffocate
vsto choke
  • NSFW
86 6.1

To have no air to breathe or to stop someone from getting air

refers more to mechanical throat or flow blockage rather than general oxygen loss
to gag
vsto choke
53 5.1

To feel like you will throw up when something touches your throat

means actual breathing blockage or physical passage obstruction rather than throat reflex
to clog
vsto choke
52 3.2

To block a pipe or passage so flow stops

is focused on general flow obstruction not only breathing or throat issues
to clog up
vsto choke
22 3.7

To block a drain or road so things cannot move through it

includes both airway and liquid passage problems beyond general clogging
to foul
vsto choke
21 4.5

To make something dirty or blocked so it does not work properly

focuses on physical airway or flow blockage rather than pollution or dirt
to back up
vsto choke
20 4.0

Become blocked so things cannot move

can also refer to neck compression or airway blockages caused by pressure
to asphyxiate
vsto choke
  • Specialized
13 9.3

To prevent a person or animal from breathing by taking away air

covers physical blocking of airway or flow not only oxygen deprivation
to throttle
vsto choke
  • Offensive
9 8.8

To squeeze someone's throat to stop their breathing

may also mean nonviolent airway or flow obstruction rather than lethal squeezing
to choke off
vsto choke
8 6.4

To stop a supply by blocking its source or flow

also includes internal airway or throat blockages that stop air or liquid
to choke up
vsto choke
2 5.8

To block a pipe or drain so water cannot pass through

is more general and also covers throat squeezing and breathing loss
to congest
vsto choke
1 5.3

To block or fill a place so things cannot move through it

also stresses causing actual inability to breathe or stopping air or liquid flow
to scrag
vsto choke
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To kill by twisting or squeezing someone's neck

is broader applying also to general airway or fluid blockages rather than neck twisting
to stifle
vsto choke
  • NSFW
1 6.6

To stop a person from breathing so they cannot get air

is broader and also covers airway or liquid passage blockages
to crap up
vsto choke
  • Offensive
1 9.9

To become blocked or cause a block by dirt and grease

is more general and also covers throat compression and airway blockages
to gutter
vsto choke
1 9.9

To make short choking breaths when dying or badly hurt

describes cause based airway or flow blockage rather than how breathing sounds
to strangulate
vsto choke
  • Offensive
1 9.6

To kill someone by squeezing their throat so they cannot breathe

includes nonfatal airway or flow blockages as well as lethal acts
to thrapple
vsto choke
  • NSFW
9.9

To put a tight grip on someone's throat so the person cannot breathe

is broader and also applies to nonviolent airway or flow blockages

Antonyms

∞ 1.0

To take air into the lungs and let it out

839 1.5

To remove people or things from a place

Idioms

to choke a horse
  • Informal
2 9.8

A very large amount of food that is more than one person can eat

1 9.9

To touch a man's penis to make him sexually excited

To stop speaking because you feel nervous, embarrassed, or upset

Phrasal Verbs

91 3.4

To have trouble breathing because food gets stuck in the throat

31 4.6

To feel so upset that you cannot speak

12 7.4

Say something with great difficulty because you feel upset or nervous

8 6.4

To stop a supply by blocking its source or flow

Stop yourself from showing a feeling when you want to cry

To stop yourself from showing strong feelings like sadness or anger

2 5.8

To block a pipe or drain so water cannot pass through

2 7.0

Perform badly because of nervousness in an important situation

To manage a short laugh when you feel surprised or shocked

5.4

Stop working or work badly when there is too much demand

Compounds

choke hold
  • NSFW
6 7.5

A tight arm around someone's neck from behind to stop them moving or make them pass out

1 7.0

Filled so tightly that there is no space left

choke coil
  • Specialized
1 7.7

A coil that lets direct current pass but reduces alternating current in a circuit

automatic choke
  • Archaic
6.8

A device in a car engine that automatically reduces air so the engine starts easily when cold

How Severe

to strangle
  • Offensive
223 6.2
to suffocate
  • NSFW
86 6.1
to choke
  • NSFW
356 3.7
to gag
53 5.1
to cough
146 1.0

Surface Forms

choke infinitive
choked past
choked past participle
choking present participle
chokes third person singular

Etymology

Choke comes from an old word meaning 'to strangle' or 'squeeze the throat', so imagine something tight around the neck that stops the breath and makes it hard to breathe.