Retch: meaning, definitions and examples

Typically used to describe the motion or sound of trying to vomit without the actual expulsion of stomach contents, often due to an unpleasant smell or sight.

• He retched at the sight of the spoiled food
• The awful smell made her retch

Used in formal or medical situations to describe the actual act of expelling stomach contents. It is the most clinical and straightforward term.

• She had to vomit after eating undercooked food
• The doctor asked if the patient had vomited recently

Used when someone is on the verge of vomiting, often in response to something disgusting. It's more general and can also reference choking or being prevented from speaking.

• The taste was so bad that it made me gag
• He gagged at the thought of eating snails

Describes the physical action or effort of vomiting, often implying a powerful or forceful motion. Can also be used metaphorically to describe heavy lifting or difficult effort.

• She heaved after drinking too much
• His body heaved with each attempt to vomit

Used to describe the act of making the noise and movement of vomiting without actually expelling anything. Often involuntary and can be due to an unpleasant sight or smell.

• She retched at the sight of the spoiled food
• The smell of the trash made him retch uncontrollably

Typically refers to the reflex one experiences when something touches the back of the throat, causing a choking or retching sensation. Often used when discussing a physical reaction or in situations that provoke nausea.

• The strong taste made him gag
• She gagged when she tried to swallow the large pill

The most direct and clinical term for expelling the contents of the stomach through the mouth. Used in both medical and casual contexts.

• She felt sick and knew she was going to vomit
• The doctor asked if he had vomited recently

Describes a more forceful attempt to vomit, often involving bodily effort. It can indicate dry-heaving, where there's a strong effort to vomit without expelling anything.

• He began to heave after eating the bad seafood
• She heaved repeatedly but nothing came up

Same as the first definition of 'retch'. This is used when someone is making an effort to vomit, often due to nausea or disgust, but may or may not actually vomit.

• He saw the spoiled food and began to retch
• The smell of the garbage made her retch

This is used to describe a reflexive action where the throat constricts, usually in response to a bad taste, smell, or object in the throat, without necessarily vomiting.

• She was gagging on the extremely bitter medicine
• The sight of the spoiled milk made him gag

Heaving involves violent contractions of the stomach, often seen when someone is about to vomit or is trying to vomit but can't. It is more intense than retching and usually indicates the body is really trying to expel something.

• After too many drinks, he found himself heaving over the toilet
• The motion of the ship had everyone on board heaving