bloat

1 of 3

adjective

ˈblōt How to pronounce bloat (audio)
Synonyms of bloatnext
: bloated, puffy

bloat

2 of 3

verb

bloated; bloating; bloats

transitive verb

1
a
: to make turgid or swollen
b
: to cause abdominal distension in
2
: to fill to capacity or overflowing

intransitive verb

: swell

bloat

3 of 3

noun

1
a
: one that is bloated
b
: unwarranted or excessive growth or enlargement
bureaucratic bloat
2
: digestive disturbance of ruminant animals and especially cattle marked by accumulation of gas in one or more stomach compartments
3
: a condition of large dogs marked by distension and usually life-threatening rotation of the stomach

Examples of bloat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
But even that proposal — which did not address other car bloat dangers like blind zones and torso strikes — is likely to be cast aside by incoming Trump appointees who are disinclined toward new business regulations. — David Zipper, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018 Data classification and retention policies are established to manage data privacy and minimize data bloat. — Chris Stegh, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024
Verb
People with celiac disease and non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) experience abdominal pain, gas, bloating, and diarrhea after consuming gluten. — Jillian Kubala, Rd, Health, 11 Mar. 2025 Eating Heavy Meals Before Bedtime Eating heavy, greasy, or spicy meals before bed can cause acid reflux, bloating, and fluctuations in body sugar, all of which can impact the quality of your sleep. — Caitlin Pagán, Verywell Health, 7 Mar. 2025
Noun
Implicit in the administration’s actions are concerns about bloat and wastage of taxpayer money. — Shivaram Rajgopal, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025 In Kennedy’s view, Americans are not uniquely beset by a privatized fee-for-service labyrinth characterized by administrative bloat, scant price regulation, a hospital system hollowed out by private equity, and rampant, grotesque greed. — Jessica Winter, The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bloat

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English blout, blote soft, pliable, from Old Norse blautr soft, weak; akin to Old English blēat miserable

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1677, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

1836, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of bloat was in the 14th century

Rhymes for bloat

See All Rhymes for bloat

Browse Nearby Words

bloat
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Cite this Entry

“Bloat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bloat. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

bloat

verb
ˈblōt
: to swell by filling with or as if with water or air : puff up

Medical Definition

bloat

1 of 2 transitive verb
ˈblōt How to pronounce bloat (audio)
: to make turgid:
a
: to produce edema in
b
: to cause or result in accumulation of gas in the digestive tract of
cucumbers sometimes bloat me
c
: to cause abdominal distension in

intransitive verb

: to become turgid

bloat

2 of 2 noun
1
: a digestive disturbance of ruminant animals and especially cattle marked by accumulation of gas in one or more stomach compartments
2
a
: a condition of large dogs marked by distension and usually life-threatening rotation of the stomach
b
: any flatulent digestive disturbance of domestic animals

More from Merriam-Webster on bloat

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for bloat

Nglish: Translation of bloat for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bloat

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