as in pants
to breathe hard, quickly, or with difficulty
the runner was audibly gasping by the end of the marathon
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of gasps
Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Apr. 2026
Deadline journalists sat towards the back of the room said the N-word and other slurs were audible, as were gasps when Davidson made his involuntary tics.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 27 Feb. 2026
The rest of the gang rushes inside to be at Eleven’s side and save the children who are trapped inside on the Pain Tree, while Vecna burbles and gasps for air.
—Yohana Desta, Rolling Stone, 4 Jan. 2026
The clashes drew bursts of laughter and, sometimes, gasps, from the show's studio audience and from home viewers.
—Dennis Romero, NBC news, 15 Dec. 2025
In the first photo, Woodruff gasps in surprise and covers her mouth with her hand as Lawley holds her other hand while on bended knee.
—Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025
Demerzel gasps, and for once Day isn’t preening in the mirror but bowing his head.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
Agnes gasps for breath as her imagination plays out terrible scenarios that she’s never been given words for.
—Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Apr. 2026
Deadline journalists sat towards the back of the room said the N-word and other slurs were audible, as were gasps when Davidson made his involuntary tics.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 27 Feb. 2026
The rest of the gang rushes inside to be at Eleven’s side and save the children who are trapped inside on the Pain Tree, while Vecna burbles and gasps for air.
—Yohana Desta, Rolling Stone, 4 Jan. 2026
The clashes drew bursts of laughter and, sometimes, gasps, from the show's studio audience and from home viewers.
—Dennis Romero, NBC news, 15 Dec. 2025
In the first photo, Woodruff gasps in surprise and covers her mouth with her hand as Lawley holds her other hand while on bended knee.
—Ashlyn Robinette, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025
Demerzel gasps, and for once Day isn’t preening in the mirror but bowing his head.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 12 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for gasps
Verb
-
As soft as pajamas yet lovely enough to wear out on the town (or around the ship), the micro modal fabric of these Saint Haven pants drapes elegantly, resists wrinkles, and has a relaxed fit that works equally well at a harbor-side bar or a breezy dinner ashore.—
Amanda Eyre Ward,
Travel + Leisure,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Good opposing coaches pants him every time (Loyola, of course, being a particularly painful example).—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
When a degraded grassland returns to health, the ground heaves up, as if inhaling with relief.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
-
If the plane heaves up, the spoilers can press it back down.—
Burkhard Bilger,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Of course, this being DC and the WHCD, there are always whispers and smoke.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
25 Apr. 2026
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The amount of hearing patients gained varied, but 80% achieved at least some significant hearing restoration and 42% ended up with normal hearing, which included the ability to hear whispers, Regeneron says.—
Rob Stein,
NPR,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
But murmurs of laughter broke out a few times when justices noted constitutional tensions in the case.—
Michael Collins,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Both threw cold water on those murmurs, reiterating love for their respective schools.—
Jacob Lev,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Clearing right-of-way strips can result in the loss of trees and native vegetation; crackles, hisses and humming can be heard nearby especially during periods of high humidity; and farm fields and animal habitat can be affected by construction activities.—
Madeline Heim,
jsonline.com,
12 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
The moans announced the doubt throughout Riviera’s 18th green amphitheater, a bowl full of thousands of fans unsure if the new guy could do it.—
Brody Miller,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
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At the moment that B’Tselem says Hathaleen collapsed, the visuals are jostled but moans of pain can be heard.—
Sam Metz,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Gasps.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gasps. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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