Phrase guide

gobble up

verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To consume [something] rapidly.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To continually absorb or expand through annexation.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly, figuratively

Examples

  • The city grew over the years by gobbling up land around its limits.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

eat a large amount of food quickly

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The children gobbled down most of the birthday cake

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: garbage down, shovel in, bolt down

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: eat

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • French: goinfrer — to consume rapidly
  • Icelandic: háma í sig — to consume rapidly
  • Icelandic: úða í sig — to consume rapidly
  • Icelandic: hakka í sig — to consume rapidly
  • Icelandic: spæna í sig — to consume rapidly
  • Icelandic: hesthúsa — to consume rapidly
  • Irish: plac — to consume rapidly
  • Latin: tuburcinor — to consume rapidly
  • Polish: pałaszować — to consume rapidly
  • Polish: spałaszować — to consume rapidly
  • Polish: pożerać — to consume rapidly
  • Polish: pożreć — to consume rapidly
  • Russian: поглощать (pogloščatʹ) — to consume rapidly
  • Swedish: glufsa i sig — to consume rapidly
  • Polish: pochłaniać — to continually absorb or expand through annexation
  • Polish: pochłonąć — to continually absorb or expand through annexation