1 C1 informal
To draw in large mouthfuls of air or liquid in a gasping or urgent way.
"She broke the surface of the water and gulped up as much air as her lungs could hold."
separable
gulp up
C1 informal separable transitive
To inhale or draw in air, liquid, or breath in large, gulping mouthfuls — a non-standard or regional variant of 'gulp down'.
In plain English
To take in large mouthfuls of air or liquid in a gasping, gulping way.
What does "gulp up" mean?
One main meaning — here's how to use it.
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To gulp something upward — drawing liquid or air up into the mouth.
Actually means
To take in large mouthfuls of air or liquid in a gasping, gulping way.
Usage tip
This form is not widely documented and is much less common than 'gulp down.' It may appear in creative or literary writing to describe gasping for air. Learners should default to 'gulp down' in most situations.
Words that pair with "gulp up"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
air breath water
How to conjugate "gulp up"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
gulp up
I/you/we/they
3rd person
gulps up
he/she/it
Past simple
gulped up
yesterday
Past participle
gulped up
have + pp
-ing form
gulping up
continuous
Hear "gulp up" in the wild
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Other ways to say "gulp up"
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