MEANING
To draw a sudden sharp breath, often in surprise, fear, pain, or difficulty breathing.
Use it for
Words that belong together
- gasp in alarm
- gasp for breath
- gasp at the sight
On the page
She gasped when the rope slid through his fingers.
The dark shape at the window made him gasp.
Instead of answering, the child gasped and pointed toward the road.
Nearby words
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- gasp / gasps
- Past tense
- gasped
- Past participle
- gasped
- Present participle
- gasping
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- gasp / gasps
- Present continuous
- am/is/are gasping
- Present perfect
- have/has gasped
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been gasping
- Past
- gasped
- Past continuous
- was/were gasping
- Past perfect
- had gasped
- Past perfect continuous
- had been gasping
- Future
- will gasp / gasps
- Future continuous
- will be gasping
- Future perfect
- will have gasped
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been gasping
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
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Usage notes
Primary category: fear. A single audible intake differs from sustained hyperventilation. The context must identify the emotion or physical cause. Verb forms (base, third-person singular, past, past participle, -ing): gasp, gasps, gasped, gasped, gasping.
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