Meaning & use
gurgling
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“gurgling” is a form of “gurgle”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
adjectivebefore a noun
Making a low, bubbling sound, like water flowing or a liquid moving in a pipe.
Grammar: Used before a noun: a gurgling sound, a gurgling drain. It is not usually used after a verb.
Patterns
- gurgling sound
- gurgling noise
- gurgling water
We could hear a gurgling sound coming from the kitchen sink.
The baby made a happy gurgling noise.
The gurgling water in the stream was very relaxing.
verbintransitive
The present participle of 'gurgle', meaning to make a low bubbling sound.
Grammar: Used in progressive tenses (is gurgling) or as a participle (the gurgling stream). No object is needed.
Patterns
- something is gurgling
- gurgling down something
The water is gurgling down the drain.
The baby was gurgling happily in her crib.
The coffee machine is gurgling, so it is almost ready.
Common combinations
- gurgling sound
- A strange gurgling sound came from the pipes.
- gurgling noise
- The gurgling noise kept me awake all night.
- gurgling water
- We sat by the gurgling water and had a picnic.
Synonyms and how they differ
- bubbling
- Bubbling suggests more visible bubbles, while gurgling focuses on the low, liquid sound.
- burbling
- Burbling is a softer, more continuous sound, often used for streams; gurgling can be more irregular and hollow.
Word family
Commonly confused: gurgling or gargling?
gurgling vs gargling
Gargling is the sound you make when you wash your throat with liquid; gurgling is a liquid moving or a baby's sound.
Practice
Choose the correct word: The baby was making ___ noises as she played with her toys.
Choose one answer.
Gurgling describes the happy bubbling sound a baby makes. Gargling is a throat-cleaning sound, giggling is laughing lightly, and growling is a low angry sound.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “gurgling”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.