What does guzzled mean?
“Guzzled” is the past tense and past participle of guzzle, an informal verb meaning to drink or eat greedily, usually with remarkable speed. It describes behavior rather than taste: a person who guzzles a bottle of beer empties it quickly and eagerly, and someone who guzzles food eats it in a voracious rush. The word often carries a humorous or mildly disapproving tone, especially when the consumption involves too much alcohol, but it can also convey straightforward enthusiasm or appetite. Because guzzled focuses on speed and greed, it is stronger than simply ate or drank and broader than devoured, which usually suggests eating rapidly and voraciously. In everyday writing, guzzled is especially memorable in phrases such as guzzle down, and it works well when an author wants to make an image vivid, humorous, or slightly exaggerated. It is a versatile choice for both literal consumption and figurative descriptions of people consuming something at a furious pace.
To drink greedily or in large amounts, usually very quickly.
"They guzzled lemonade until the ice melted."
Commonly implies haste and lack of restraint, and is often used humorously or disapprovingly when alcohol is involved.
To eat greedily or voraciously, typically with great speed.
"The players guzzled pizza after the match."
This sense is less frequent than the drinking sense but is fully established in ordinary English.
Guzzled captures the particular determination of finishing a drink in one eager, undignified burst.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does guzzled come from?
Guzzled is the past tense and past participle of guzzle, a verb recorded in English by the late 16th century. The word is generally traced through Middle English gusel to Old French gousler, ultimately associated with a vulgar Latin form derived from Latin gutta, “drop.” The precise medieval development is uncertain, but related English forms include guzzler, while the Latin ancestry also links guzzle with words such as gout and gutter.
Related word forms
How guzzled is actually used
The word is informal and often humorous or mildly disapproving. It can suggest excessive or irresponsible drinking, though it may also be used lightheartedly to convey enthusiasm or enthusiasm-driven hunger.
Easily confused with guzzled
Guzzled can refer to drinking or eating greedily, whereas gobbled usually means eating food quickly and voraciously.