Quick answer
Gobble means to eat quickly and greedily; to make the sound of a turkey. It is usually pronounced GOB-uhl, and today it is still readable to modern audiences, even if it sounds more deliberate than everyday speech.
Word page
Gobble
To gobble means to eat quickly and greedily; to make the sound of a turkey. It belongs to ridiculous verbs and works best in comic action, lively dialogue, and verbs that do more than plain “move” or “say”. It still feels usable today, especially when you want a word with more character than the plainest alternative.
At a glance
verbcomical-actionexpressive
How to say it
Meaning in plain English
If you gobble, you to eat quickly and greedily; to make the sound of a turkey. The verb usually suggests something more expressive, comic, or textured than a plain everyday substitute.
Why this word feels absurd
Gobble feels absurd because it has more texture than the plain alternative, giving the idea an extra bit of theatrical, comic, or overbuilt energy.
Origin and history
Gobble is generally traced to imitative, echoing gulping or turkey sounds. In modern use, the history matters less than the strong tone the word still carries.
Is this word still used today?
Gobble is still usable today, especially when you want language that feels more distinctive than the plainest modern alternative.
Example sentences
- The interns began to gobble at once when the projector failed again.
- He gobbleed through the explanation so fast that nobody trusted the final answer.
- In the play, nervous witnesses gobble whenever the magistrate clears his throat.
- She refused to gobble about the crisis and gave the room a usable plan instead.
- The children gobbleed excitedly after finding the attic full of costumes.
When should you use this word?
Use gobble when a plain action verb feels too flat and you want the sentence to carry more motion, tone, or comic texture. It works especially well in comic action, lively dialogue, and verbs that do more than plain “move” or “say”.
Similar words
bamboozle, beclown, bedaub, befuddle, besmirch
Opposite or contrasting words
stillness, restraint, straightforward action
Common questions
- What does gobble mean? To eat quickly and greedily; to make the sound of a turkey.
- How do you pronounce gobble? It is commonly pronounced GOB-uhl.
- Is gobble still used today? Gobble is still usable today, especially when you want language that feels more distinctive than the plainest modern alternative.
- When should you use gobble? Use gobble when a plain action verb feels too flat and you want the sentence to carry more motion, tone, or comic texture. It works especially well in comic action, lively dialogue, and verbs that do more than plain “move” or “say”.
- What words are similar to gobble? Similar words include bamboozle, beclown, bedaub, and befuddle.
Editorial note
Edited by Absurd Words. Last updated: May 9, 2026. See the editorial policy for how definitions, examples, labels, and update checks are handled on the site.