What does gurgled mean?
Gurgled describes the act of making a low, bubbling or rumbling sound, usually one associated with liquid moving through a pipe, a container, or the digestive system. It is the past tense and past participle of gurgle, and it can also refer to speech or laughter that is indistinct and bubbling in quality. The word is useful because it combines a clear sound description with an element of physical sensation: a kettle gurgles, a drain gurgles, and a stomach can gurgle before hunger becomes obvious. It appears in ordinary conversation and descriptive writing alike, with a tone that is usually neutral but can become humorous when used for awkward bodily noises. In literary contexts, the word helps readers hear a scene, making it especially effective for domestic, natural, or slightly comic description.
verbGurgled is the past tense and past participle of gurgle. It describes making a low, bubbling sound, especially as liquid moves through a narrow passage or as the stomach works, and can also describe making a similar indistinct sound with the voice.
- Made or characterized by a low, bubbling sound, especially one produced by liquid moving through a narrow passage or by the stomach.
- Made an indistinct, gurgling sound with the voice.
"The kettle gurgled as the water began to boil."
"Water gurgled through the old pipes in the wall."
"She tried to answer calmly, but her stomach gurgled loudly."
A single word can describe the entire soundtrack of a kettle, a stomach, or a nervous laugh: gurgled.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Words that share this root
How gurgled is actually used
The word is neutral in register and is often used for vivid sensory description. Its sound associations are generally liquid or bodily, and it can convey a mixture of bubbling movement, rumbling, and sometimes mild comic or awkwardness.
Easily confused with gurgled
Gargled means rinsing the throat or mouth by bubbling liquid through it, whereas gurgled means making a low bubbling sound.