verb
choke
chohk
verb
1
To be unable to breathe because something is blocking the throat or windpipe.
"He started to choke on a piece of steak that went down the wrong way."
"The smoke was so thick that people began to choke."
2
To squeeze someone's throat so they cannot breathe; to strangle.
"The attacker tried to choke his victim before being pulled away."
3
To perform badly under pressure at a crucial moment, especially when close to winning.
"The tennis player choked in the final set after leading the whole match."
noun
1
A valve that adjusts the fuel-air mixture in an engine, especially to help start it when cold.
"He pulled the choke to start the old lawnmower on a cold morning."
How to Use Choke
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo be blocked from breathing, to strangle someone, or to fail badly under pressure.
Common mistake
"Choke" (sports slang) means to fail from nerves when winning was expected — not the same as simply losing.
Common pairings
choke on food
choke under pressure
pull the choke
Word Forms
choked past tense, chokes plural, chokes plural, chokes singular
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He started to _____ on a piece of steak that went down the wrong way.
Etymology
From Old English āceocian ("to choke"), likely related to Old English ċēoce ("jaw, cheek").