verb / noun
gasp
GASP/ɡæsp/
A sudden sharp intake of breath, often from surprise, pain, or difficulty breathing.
The swimmer gasps for air as he breaks through the water's surface.
Etymology
Middle English gaspen meant “open the mouth wide” or “exhale.” The mouth-opening image remains, while the selected modern sense centers on a sudden inward breath.
In context
the crystal suddenly burst forth with a blinding red light and a wave of heat spread outward from the stone platform causing the nearby crowd to gasp in surprise
More examples
- He gasps in pain as he twists his ankle.
- After sprinting uphill, I gasp for air.
- A loud gasp rises from the crowd as the acrobat slips.
Forms
gasp · gasps · gasped · gasping
Similar words
- pant
- Means breathing quickly and repeatedly, rather than one sudden intake.
- inhale
- Means breathing in, without necessarily being sudden or sharp.