Meaning & use
choke
To have difficulty breathing because the throat or windpipe is blocked or squeezed shut.
See it in a sentence
He began to choke on a piece of steak until his friend performed the maneuver.
Thick smoke made the firefighters choke as they searched the burning building.
A note on using this word
Informally, to 'choke' also means to fail under pressure, as in an athlete choking during a final match.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
breathe
Another way to use it
2. verb
To fail to perform well because of nervousness or pressure, especially at a crucial moment.
The favorite choked in the final round and lost the championship to a newcomer.
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