gasp
312
1.8
- noun
- /ɡæsp/
:
jadeo
- Fumbling with his zipper, Manny let out a gasp as the frosty air touched his skin.
- last gasp
- an audible gasp
I just I gave that moment to pause for a gasp because what?
- I just I gave that moment to pause for a gasp because what?
- And when they reach that level, they trigger the gasp reflex and or the hunger for breathing.
- But I I see it as this as a last great gasp of his kind of literary potency.
- And when I told my wife, I heard this gasp on the other end and I was like, oh boy, I think it's over.
- She makes a gasp, audible loud, and the creature turns its head and looks them straight in the eye.
- So we have the phrase dying gasp, super large breaths.
- And I'll share his latest gasps in tonight's thrilling.
Examples
-
Her breath came in short gasps as she watched the slim figure of the maiden perform.
Fiction book (1992) -
And the gasp in that classroom was audible.
-
Emma gave a little gasp as he put it in her hand.
Fiction book (1990) -
Then I heard a gasp nearby and sensed a face close to mine.
Fiction book (1990) -
There was an audible gasp from everyone around, followed by an awkward silence.
-
Then he sat back, his breath coming in gasps, and his eyes roved over those books.
Academic text (2007) -
For a moment, the applause mingled with gasps and shouts of dismay.
Fiction book (1992) -
Then she sees Mo and starts forward with a gasp, kneeling beside him, momentarily forgetting her own peril.
Fiction book (1990) -
The news of their engagement brought a collective gasp from the crowd.
-
When the magician revealed his final trick, there was an audible gasp from the audience.
Synonyms
A short sharp breath you take when you are surprised
Compounds
1
8.1
The final moment before something stops, often the last breath a person takes at the end of life
- Informal
A last weak attempt to believe things will get better before giving up
How Sudden
Surface Forms
Etymology
Gasp comes from an old word meaning 'open the mouth' and is related to gape, so a gasp is a short, sudden intake of breath you make when you are surprised, shocked, or in pain.