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noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

gorge

gawj
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Gorge (noun) means a deep, narrow valley or ravine, usually with steep rocky walls and often a river running through it. Example: “Tourists flock to see the river cut through the gorge.”

noun
1
A deep, narrow valley or ravine, usually with steep rocky walls and often a river running through it.
"Tourists flock to see the river cut through the gorge."
"They hiked along the rim of the gorge at sunset."
2
The throat or gullet.
"The thought of it made his gorge rise."
verb
1
To eat greedily and to excess.
"We gorged ourselves on pizza after the game."
"The bear gorged on salmon before winter."

How to use gorge

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither a deep rocky ravine, or the act of stuffing yourself with food, and (older, more literary) the throat itself.

Common mistake

The phrase "gorge rises" means feeling nauseated or disgusted — it uses the old "throat" sense, not the canyon one.

Easily confused with
canyon →
Common pairings
a deep gorge gorge oneself on rim of the gorge
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Word forms

Plural
gorges
Third person singular
gorges
Past tense
gorged
Comparative
more gorge
Superlative
most gorge
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Tourists flock to see the river cut through the _____.

Etymology

From Old French gorge, meaning "throat," ultimately from Latin gurges ("whirlpool, gulf"). The "deep ravine" sense developed later, from the image of a river squeezed through a narrow, throat-like passage.

Origin: Latin

Synonyms

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stuff binge defile gullet glut englut engorge overeat pig out satiate esophagus overgorge

Related words

full stuff dirty cloud rape tear throat flood

Rhymes for gorge

Jorge forge George
See all rhymes for gorge →

Frequently asked questions

What does “gorge” mean?
The word “gorge” means a deep, narrow valley or ravine, usually with steep rocky walls and often a river running through it. In plain terms, either a deep rocky ravine, or the act of stuffing yourself with food, and (older, more literary) the throat itself.
How do you pronounce “gorge”?
“Gorge” is pronounced gawj (/ɡɔɹd͡ʒ/ in IPA).
How do you use “gorge” in a sentence?
Here is “gorge” used in a sentence: “Tourists flock to see the river cut through the gorge.”
What part of speech is “gorge”?
Depending on how it is used, “gorge” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “gorge” come from?
The word “gorge” comes from Latin. From Old French gorge, meaning "throat," ultimately from Latin gurges ("whirlpool, gulf"). The "deep ravine" sense developed later, from the image of a river squeezed through a narrow, throat-like passage.
Is “gorge” a common word?
“Gorge” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “gorge” have?
“Gorge” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a deep, narrow valley or ravine, usually with steep rocky walls and often a river running through it.

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