Choke: meaning, definitions and examples

When someone has trouble breathing because something is blocking their throat, especially food. Can also refer to failing to perform well under pressure.

• He began to choke on a piece of steak.
• The player choked during the crucial moment of the game.

When someone cannot breathe due to a lack of air or because their airways are blocked by an external force. It can also be used metaphorically to describe feeling very restricted or oppressed.

• He suffocated because there wasn't enough oxygen in the room.
• She felt suffocated by her controlling parents.

To squeeze someone's neck tightly to prevent them from breathing, with the intention of causing harm or death. This term has a violent connotation.

• The killer tried to strangle his victim.
• She felt like she was being strangled by her tight collar.

When someone is trying to vomit or feels the urge to, usually because of something disgusting or a physical obstruction in the throat.

• The smell of the garbage made him gag.
• She began to gag on a mouthful of water.

Usually refers to obstructing someone's airway, causing difficulty in breathing. It can also mean hindering or preventing the performance of an activity.

• He started to choke while eating a piece of meat.
• The team choked during the final minutes of the game.

To stop something from moving through a space, such as an entrance or pathway. It is often used in a physical or metaphorical sense.

• A fallen tree blocks the road.
• Her fear of failure blocks her potential.

Refers to something becoming filled or obstructed, especially in the context of pipes, drains, and arteries. It suggests a gradual accumulation of a substance.

• The sink is clogged with grease.
• Eating too much fast food can clog your arteries.

Implies a situational or mechanical obstruction, often temporary. Commonly used for machinery or situations where things are stuck together or cannot move.

• The printer jammed again.
• We were stuck in a traffic jam for hours.

Generally used to describe a situation where someone or something is unable to breathe or function properly due to a blockage. It can be both literal (like food stuck in the throat) or metaphorical (like feeling overwhelmed). It can have a negative connotation.

• He began to choke on a piece of steak.
• She felt like she would choke under the pressure of the exam.

This term is often used in medical, physical, or technical contexts to describe when something is preventing flow or movement through a space. It doesn't carry an emotional or intense negative meaning and is more clinical or descriptive.

• The doctor found a blockage in one of the patient's arteries.
• There is a blockage in the pipe that needs to be cleared.

Similar to blockage, 'obstruction' is used to describe something that is in the way or preventing progress. It is commonly used in both physical and metaphorical contexts and typically suggests a barrier or hindrance.

• The fallen tree caused an obstruction on the road.
• His constant interruptions were an obstruction to the meeting's progress.

Refers to limitations or restrictions on someone or something. This term is often used in discussions about rules, regulations, resources, or capabilities. It has a neutral to slightly negative connotation when referring to limiting factors.

• The budget constraints made it difficult to complete the project on time.
• There are several constraints that we need to consider when planning the event.