noun Common

gut

guht

Gut (noun) means the stomach and intestines; someone's digestive system. Example: “Spicy food never agrees with my gut.”

noun

The stomach and intestines; someone's digestive system.

"Spicy food never agrees with my gut."

"The parasite lives in the gut of its host."

A person's belly, especially a large or protruding one.

"Years of beer and takeaways had given him quite a gut."

A person's instinctive, emotional reaction, as opposed to logical thought.

"Something in my gut told me not to trust him."

verb

To remove the internal organs of an animal, especially a fish, before cooking it.

"The fisherman gutted the trout right there on the dock."

To destroy the inside or most important parts of something.

"The fire gutted the old warehouse, leaving only the outer walls."

"The new policy gutted funding for the arts programme."

How to use gut

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe stomach/intestines, a bulging belly, or — figuratively — instinct and the emotional core of a decision.

Common mistake

"Gut feeling" and "gut instinct" describe an intuitive sense, not something based on evidence — don't use it to mean a reasoned conclusion.

Common pairings

gut feeling gut instinct gut a fish gut the building

Word forms

more gut comparative, gutted past tense, guts plural, Guts plural, guts singular, most gut superlative

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Spicy food never agrees with my _____.

Etymology

From Old English gutt ("entrails"), going back to a very old root meaning "to pour" — the same idea behind the word "gutter".

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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belly stomach abdomen paunch instinct eviscerate

Related words

stomach belly dislike tolerate instinct impulse abdomen intuition

Frequently asked questions

What does “gut” mean?

The word “gut” means the stomach and intestines; someone's digestive system. In plain terms, the stomach/intestines, a bulging belly, or — figuratively — instinct and the emotional core of a decision.

How do you pronounce “gut”?

“Gut” is pronounced guht (/ɡʌt/ in IPA).

How do you use “gut” in a sentence?

Here is “gut” used in a sentence: “Spicy food never agrees with my gut.”

What part of speech is “gut”?

Depending on how it is used, “gut” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “gut” come from?

The word “gut” comes from Old English. From Old English gutt ("entrails"), going back to a very old root meaning "to pour" — the same idea behind the word "gutter".

Is “gut” a common word?

“Gut” is a fairly common word in modern English.

How many meanings does “gut” have?

“Gut” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the stomach and intestines; someone's digestive system.

What is the difference between a gut feeling and intuition?

Both describe understanding or deciding without conscious reasoning. Gut feeling is the more informal, physical-sounding term for an immediate emotional reaction, while intuition sounds more considered and is more at home in formal writing.

Is gut a rude word for stomach?

Gut is informal but not rude; it is the everyday word for the stomach and intestines. It can sound blunt or unflattering when describing a person's belly, especially a large one, so stomach or abdomen are the polite or clinical choices.

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stomach belly dislike tolerate instinct impulse abdomen intuition