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to gulp

to gulp

26 2.9
Swallow a drink quickly, often because you feel nervous or thirsty
  • verb
  • /ɡʌlp/
translation icon : tragar
  • During the race, he had to gulp down his water quickly to stay hydrated.

Throughout the day, when you're trying to get your adequate yield of water or other beverages, feel free to gulp that fluid or sip it.

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Examples

  • She's gulping it down.

  • The Laughing Man gulps down the potion and starts to calm down a little.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • When we tell them, they just sort of gulp and say, 'Thanks for the hard work.'

    Academic text (2005)
  • And that's part of what I mean with that, you know, so the, if you think about, you know, we just gulp food down.

  • And also that I gulp really loudly when I drink, which I can't help.

  • At the end of his coughing, he gulps a big breath of air.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • I gulped my food.

  • No one having invited him to drink, he gulped down a beer, belched loudly, and went out again.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • The Laughing Man grabs it and leaves, gulping down its contents voraciously.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • They're gulping down gastroliths, stones they swallow in order to help their digestion.

Synonyms

to chug
vsto gulp
  • Informal
31 5.0

To drink something quickly in large gulps

covers quick swallowing for both food and drink, sometimes noisy
to pop
vsto gulp
  • Informal
25 8.2

To drink an alcoholic drink quickly

is broader, applying to quick swallowing of food or drink generally
to slurp
vsto gulp
22 4.8

To eat or drink something with a loud sucking noise

is similar but emphasizes quick or large swallows rather than sound
to guzzle
vsto gulp
  • Informal
16 5.8

To drink a lot very quickly

may be quicker or noisier but not always strongly greedy
to gobble
vsto gulp
16 2.6

To eat food quickly and noisily without chewing properly

focuses more on quick swallowing and possible noise rather than chewing
to suck down
vsto gulp
  • Informal
9 7.7

To drink or eat something very quickly, often without pausing

adds that swallowing can be noisy or done from emotion or thirst
to wolf down
vsto gulp
  • Informal
7 5.8

Eat food very quickly when you are very hungry

can be done from thirst or emotion as well as hunger
to gulp down
vsto gulp
  • Informal
6 3.1

To eat or drink something quickly without stopping

is similar but often includes noisy or difficult swallowing
to quaff
vsto gulp
  • Archaic
4 9.1

To drink a large amount quickly and with pleasure

is usually quicker and can be noisy or driven by thirst
to stuff one's face
vsto gulp
  • Informal
3 8.2

To eat a lot of food very quickly

may also describe quick swallowing of drink and noisy action
to swig
vsto gulp
  • Informal
1 6.7

To drink a large amount quickly in one swallow

can mean quick swallowing in several gulps, not only one
to chug coffee
vsto gulp
  • Informal
1 5.9

To drink coffee quickly in big gulps to wake up

is the general quick swallowing action across drinks and food
to swigger
vsto gulp
  • Informal
9.9

To drink a liquid quickly in big gulps, often alcohol

is broader and includes hurried or emotion-driven swallowing
to swill down
vsto gulp
  • Informal
8.0

To drink a lot very quickly, often alcohol

is similar but applies to food or drink and may be noisy
to bolt down
vsto gulp
  • Informal
3.7

To eat or drink very quickly, often without chewing

is like this but also includes difficult or noisy swallowing

Antonyms

127 1.0

To drink a small amount at a time, usually slowly

Phrasal Verbs

to gulp down
  • Informal
6 3.1

To eat or drink something quickly without stopping

How Quickly

to guzzle
  • Informal
16 5.8
to chug
  • Informal
31 5.0
to gulp
26 2.9
to drink
1.0

Surface Forms

gulp infinitive
gulped past
gulped past participle
gulping present participle
gulps third person singular

Etymology

Gulp comes from a word that copies the sound people make when they swallow, much like gurgle copies a wet sound. So to gulp is to 'swallow' quickly or with difficulty, often because you are thirsty or nervous.