VocabauraVOCABAURA

gag

noun · verb

Simple meaning

A device to restrain speech, such as a rag in the mouth secured with tape or a rubber ball threaded onto a cord or strap.

Pronunciation

Say it like this:

gag
US device voice
IPA pronunciation (US)

ˈɡæɡ

This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.

IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.

Word Review

Definition

Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.

noun

  1. A device to restrain speech, such as a rag in the mouth secured with tape or a rubber ball threaded onto a cord or strap.

  2. A joke or other mischievous prank.

  3. law

    An order or rule forbidding discussion of a case or subject.

  4. figurative

    Any suppression of freedom of speech.

  5. A convulsion of the upper digestive tract.

  6. Mycteroperca microlepis, a species of grouper.

verb

  1. intransitive

    To experience the vomiting reflex.

  2. transitive

    To cause to heave with nausea.

  3. transitive

    To restrain someone's speech by blocking his or her mouth.

  4. transitive

    To pry or hold open by means of a gag.

  5. transitivefiguratively

    To restrain someone's speech without using physical means.

Word at a Glance

Difficulty
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Moderately Common
Typical Use
Neutral / general English

Word Aura™

How this word commonly comes across.

Aura for this meaning

This meaning: A device to restrain speech, such as a rag in the mouth secured with tape or a rubber ball threaded onto a cord or strap.

Used this way, gag is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.

Emotional tone
Neutral
Formality
Neutral
Intensity
Not strongly marked
How common
Moderately common
Connotation
Matter-of-fact
Usage feel
Neutral and straightforward

Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.

Share your sentence

Write your own example sentence using “gag”. We review each one before it appears.

Common Patterns and Combinations

How this word naturally appears with others.

Device

running gag

Order

gag rulegag order

Other combinations

gag reflexsight gagmouth gaggag gene

Tap the highlighted word to open its own entry.

Word Family

Related forms, grouped by how they connect.

Compound terms

Established multiword terms.

  • gag rulenounCompound term

    A rule for limiting or ending debate in a deliberative body.

  • gag reflexnounCompound term

    Normal reflex consisting of retching.

  • gag ordernounCompound term

    A court order restricting information or comment by the participants involved in a lawsuit.

  • gag linenounCompound term

    The point of a joke or humorous story.

Use This Word

See how this word sounds in a real sentence.

Ask Vocabaura

Understand the word your way.

What Does It Mean Here?

Words can change meaning depending on context.

Use it yourself

Knowing “gag” starts when you use it. Pick a next step, all free.

Know the meaning? Practice using it in a real situation, free, no credits.

Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.