gagged; gagging
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
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
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
EW.com, 17 July 2025
This is known as gagging, retching, or dry heaving.
—Kelly Burch Published, Verywell Health, 7 July 2025
Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 28 July 2025
There’s a running gag in which each of the eight players gets to play the same role at different times, each bringing their own bluster to it and each wearing the same silly hat.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for gag
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Verb
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 10 is nearing its end, but RuPaul is gagging her children down to the last minute in Entertainment Weekly's exclusive preview of Friday's finale.
—EW.com, 17 July 2025
This is known as gagging, retching, or dry heaving.
—Kelly Burch Published, Verywell Health, 7 July 2025
Noun
The YouTuber had announced the birth of her new addition on the same day that Osbourne died, sparking the latest wave of reincarnation memes in a running gag that dates back to when Paytas welcomed her first baby in September 2022, just days after Queen Elizabeth II passed away.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 28 July 2025
There’s a running gag in which each of the eight players gets to play the same role at different times, each bringing their own bluster to it and each wearing the same silly hat.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for gag
Cite this Entry
“Gag.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gag. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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 noun1
a
: something thrust into the mouth especially to prevent speech or outcry
b
: a restraint on free speech
2
: something said or done to cause laughter
3
: prank
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