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# gasp

verb (gasp, gasps, gasped, gasping); noun (a gasp, gasps)

«gasp» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To gasp means to breathe in suddenly and loudly with your mouth open, because you are surprised, shocked or in pain. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gasp/#m1)
2. To gasp for air or for breath means to struggle to breathe, for example after running or under water. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gasp/#m2)
3. A gasp is a sudden short breath like that. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gasp/#m3)
4. The last gasp means the very end, almost too late. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gasp/#m4)

### In the lessons

In stories, a gasp shows surprise or shock: «Everyone gasped». In health and safety, gasping for breath can mean someone cannot breathe well; after exercise it is normal, but if someone is choking, in water or having an asthma attack, get help at once. Phrases: «gasp in surprise», «gasp for air», «gasp of horror», «a last-gasp goal» (in the final moments).

### Examples

- The audience gasped when the magician vanished. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gasp/#x1)
- I gasped when I saw the big spider. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gasp/#x2)
- He came up from the water gasping for air. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gasp/#x3)
- After the race we were all gasping. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gasp/#x4)
- There was a gasp of surprise from the class. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gasp/#x5)
- She gasped in pain when she twisted her ankle. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gasp/#x6)
- They scored a last-gasp goal to win. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gasp/#x7)
- «Oh no!» she gasped. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gasp/#x8)
- “John is not here now,” she gasped. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gasp/#x9)

### Note

Past: «gasped» (said like «gaspt»). A gasp is breathing in; a sigh is usually breathing out. If someone keeps gasping and cannot speak, it may be an emergency.

## In Jewish tradition

To pant or struggle for breath. Jeremiah uses it for animals in a drought, and Isaiah uses it for God crying out like a woman in labor.

**Interpretation.** Isaiah's picture is read as God finally acting after long patience. The tradition says God's silence in exile is not weakness.

### Examples

- And the wild asses stand on the high hills, they gasp for air like jackals; their eyes fail, because there is no herbage. (Prophets JER.14.6, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/G/gasp/#x1)
- I have long time held My peace, I have been still, and refrained Myself; now will I cry like a travailing woman, gasping and panting at once. (Prophets ISA.42.14, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/G/gasp/#x2)

### Note

Past: «gasped» (said like «gaspt»). A gasp is breathing in; a sigh is usually breathing out. If someone keeps gasping and cannot speak, it may be an emergency.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «gasp» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gasp/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«gasp» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/gasp.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «gasp» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/G/gasp/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«gasp» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/gasp.html) on Mova free.