What does gush mean?
Gush describes a sudden, abundant flow, whether of liquid, emotion, or enthusiastic words. As a noun, it refers to a powerful rush of water, blood, tears, or another substance, and figuratively to an uncontrolled or conspicuous outpouring of feeling. As a verb, it means to flow or pour forth suddenly, or to speak with intense and often excessive enthusiasm. The word often conveys a sense of force and lack of restraint: a pipe can gush, a wound can bleed in a gush, and a person can gush with praise or excitement. In informal contexts, describing someone as gushing may imply that their enthusiasm is exaggerated or indiscriminate, although the word can also be affectionate. Its imagery makes it useful for both literal descriptions and vivid accounts of emotional overflow.
A sudden, forceful flow of liquid or another substance; figuratively, a sudden and excessive expression of emotion or enthusiasm.
"A gush of warm air came from the open furnace."
The figurative sense is often informal and may imply an outpouring that is unusually strong, unrestrained, or excessive.
To flow or pour out suddenly and abundantly; to speak or write with excessive enthusiasm or emotion.
"The narrator gushed about the novel as if it were the finest ever written."
In descriptions of speech, gush often carries a mildly critical or playful implication of uncontrolled enthusiasm.
The plural is used for separate flows or bursts, whether literal or figurative.
"Several gushes of water escaped from the cracked hose."
From a gush of water to a gush of feelings, gush captures the moment a small stream suddenly becomes a flood.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does gush come from?
The English word is recorded from the early modern period, with the verb appearing in the early 17th century in the sense of flowing out with force. Its deeper origin is uncertain, and it is often understood as an imitative formation suggesting the sound or movement of a sudden rush. The related forms gushy, gusher, and gushing developed within English from this established verbal and noun base.
Related word forms
How gush is actually used
The emotional sense of gush is common in informal speech and can suggest being overly enthusiastic, emotionally demonstrative, or insincere. It is also used figuratively for a sudden, abundant flow of ideas, praise, or words.