Meaning & use
choking
Struggling to breathe because the throat or windpipe is blocked or squeezed.
See it in a sentence
The waiter performed the Heimlich maneuver on a guest who was choking on food.
Thick smoke filled the hallway, choking anyone who tried to escape.
A note on using this word
Also used figuratively for failing under pressure, as in 'the team choked in the final minute.'
Words with a similar meaning
gaggingsuffocating
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. verb
Failing to perform well in an important moment because of nervousness or pressure.
The rookie choked at the free-throw line during the championship game.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “choking”, then compare your use with the examples above.
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