gag

1 of 2

verb

gagged; gagging

transitive verb

1
a
: to restrict use of the mouth of by inserting something into it to prevent speech or outcry
b
: to prevent from exercising freedom of speech or expression
trying to gag the press
legally gagged from discussing the case
c
: to pry or hold open with a gag
2
: to provide or write quips or pranks for
gag a show
3
: to choke or cause to retch

intransitive verb

1
a
: choke
also : to suffer a throat spasm that makes swallowing or breathing difficult
b
: retch
2
: to be unable to endure something : balk
The boys gagged at all the kissing and goo-goo eyes.
3
: to make quips
gagger noun

gag

2 of 2

noun

1
: something thrust into the mouth to keep it open or to prevent speech or outcry
2
: an official check or restraint on debate or free speech
a gag rule
3
: a laugh-provoking remark or act
4

Examples of gag in a Sentence

Verb The government is trying to gag the press. the terrible smell of rotting fish made me gag Noun The movie relies on simpleminded gags for laughs. They hid his clothes as a gag. They tied up the hostages and put gags in their mouths. The government is trying to put a gag on the press.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
Some residents recently complained that its odors are so pungent they have been made to gag or vomit. Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2024 Cardi continued her video by poured her lemon mixture into the open egg and took a sip of the broth, before immediately gagging. Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024 Mooney’s body was found inside a refrigerator, with wrists and ankles bound and her mouth gagged, according to an autopsy report by the L.A. County medical examiner. Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2024 His son had a dog, a black Labrador mix, who developed respiratory symptoms, constant coughing that turned to choking and gagging. Detroit Free Press, 22 Feb. 2024 Sunny Hostin just gagged Alyssa Farah Griffin with The View cohost's own political history. Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 9 Feb. 2024 The courtroom photos and evidence were so graphic and jolting at times that jurors, observers and even the defense attorney nearly gagged. Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2024 The always intentional Knowles will surely leave fans gagged if her latest will be transformed into a visual concept album. Shelby Stewart, Essence, 14 Jan. 2024 Advertisement Garnett experimented with gagging sounds to heighten the misery of the moment. Stuart Miller, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2024
Noun
In a Goldilocks gag, Dawn and Eden have a hard time finding good seats. Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Mar. 2024 Although the best gags, involving some adorable but violence-loving bunnies, have been playing on a loop in the teaser trailers, the film still manages to combine muscular action with a healthy dollop of comedy, much of it having to do with Po’s posse and his seemingly unquenchable appetite. Brian Lowry, CNN, 7 Mar. 2024 Even characters on the periphery of things are given more to do, like a running gag about how Maya’s boyfriend Shlomo (Gary Gulman) keeps trying to increase the dwindling number of practicing Jews in America. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 15 Feb. 2024 But gags did not come included, or much of anything else, before they were whisked off again. Chris Willman, Variety, 25 Jan. 2024 Not surprisingly given the film’s below-the-belt bent, a circumcision gag follows, while Rod has to vamp his way through all the fabulous attributes the trio have ascribed to Stanicky through the years. Brian Lowry, CNN, 6 Mar. 2024 The best gag comes when Po tiptoes through a rooftop of napping Komodo dragons, desperate to stay quiet. Amy Nicholson, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024 Now, rather than embarrassing participants, Stewart’s gags show off the power of the mind. Emily Latimer, Longreads, 25 Jan. 2024 The gag reel shows off the bond between Larson and Vellani, whose Ms. Marvel character is depicted as a major fan of Captain Marvel. Tommy McArdle, Peoplemag, 11 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gag.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English gaggen "to strangle," of imitative origin

Noun

derivative of gag entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1509, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gag was in 1509

Dictionary Entries Near gag

Cite this Entry

“Gag.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gag. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

gag

1 of 2 verb
gagged; gagging
1
: to prevent from speaking or crying out by or as if by stopping up the mouth
2
a
: to vomit or cause to feel like vomiting
3
: to be unable to endure something : balk
4
: to tell jokes

gag

2 of 2 noun
1
a
: something thrust into the mouth especially to prevent speech or outcry
b
: a check to free speech
2
: something said or done to cause laughter
3
: prank

More from Merriam-Webster on gag

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