gobble

1 of 2

verb (1)

gob·​ble ˈgä-bəl How to pronounce gobble (audio)
gobbled; gobbling ˈgä-b(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce gobble (audio)
Synonyms of gobble

transitive verb

1
: to swallow or eat greedily
2
: to take eagerly : grab
—usually used with up
3
: to read rapidly or greedily
—usually used with up

gobble

2 of 2

verb (2)

gobbled; gobbling ˈgä-b(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce gobble (audio)

intransitive verb

1
: to make the natural guttural noise of a male turkey
2
: to make a sound resembling the gobble of a turkey
gobble noun

Synonyms of gobble

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Verb (1)

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Examples of gobble in a Sentence

Verb (1) gobbled the sandwiches like they hadn't eaten for days
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Tech giants racing to build AI data centers are gobbling up a growing share of memory supply, leaving less for makers of phones, laptops, and other consumer electronics. — Fernanda Tronco, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026 Geese did something similar with last year’s Getting Killed, their own neutron star of an album, gobbling up the tangled lineages of rock, punk, and drone music in New York City with the ravenous appetites of kids weaned on the infinite scroll. — Walden Green, Pitchfork, 9 Oct. 2026 Sales of German autos are plummeting in China, but China is also poised to gobble up market share in Europe by undercutting European automakers on price thanks to heavy state subsidies. — ABC News, 7 Oct. 2026 When the Vikings regained possession Minnesota gobbled up the clock, driving the ball to the 2-yard line before ending the game with the victory formation. — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 4 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gobble

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

probably irregular from gob entry 1

Verb (2)

imitative

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1583, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1680, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gobble was in 1583

Rhymes for gobble

See All Rhymes for gobble

Browse Nearby Words

gobbet
gobble
gobbledygook
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Gobble.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gobble. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

gobble

1 of 2 verb
gob·​ble ˈgäb-əl How to pronounce gobble (audio)
gobbled; gobbling -(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce gobble (audio)
1
: to swallow or eat greedily
2
: to take eagerly : grab
the small country was gobbled up by its neighbor

gobble

2 of 2 verb
: to make the sound of a male turkey
gobble noun
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