noun
Common
gut
guht
Gut (noun) means the stomach and intestines; someone's digestive system. Example: “Yoghurt with live cultures is said to be good for your gut.”
noun
1
The stomach and intestines; someone's digestive system.
"Yoghurt with live cultures is said to be good for your gut."
"Spicy food never agrees with my gut."
"The parasite lives in the gut of its host."
2
A person's belly, especially a large or protruding one.
"He patted his gut and said he should probably skip dessert."
"Grandad's gut shook whenever he laughed at his own jokes."
"Years of beer and takeaways had given him quite a gut."
3
A person's instinctive, emotional reaction, as opposed to logical thought.
"Your head says take the job, but what does your gut say?"
"I went with my gut and chose the quieter flat."
"Something in my gut told me not to trust him."
verb
1
To remove the internal organs of an animal, especially a fish, before cooking it.
"Ask the fishmonger to gut the mackerel before you take it home."
"You need a sharp knife to gut a fish cleanly."
"The fisherman gutted the trout right there on the dock."
2
To destroy the inside or most important parts of something.
"The builders gutted the old cottage and fitted a completely new kitchen."
"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 notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- guts
- Third person singular
- guts
- Past tense
- gutted
- Comparative
- more gut
- Superlative
- most gut
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Yoghurt with live cultures is said to be good for your _____.
Etymology
From Old English gutt ("entrails"), going back to a very old root meaning "to pour" — the same idea behind the word "gutter".
Synonyms
View more →Related words
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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