WordGarden.iogouge
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ɡˈaʊdʒ/
US
- /ˈɡaʊdʒ/
Meanings
Verb
to cut, scoop, or scrape a rough groove or hole in a surface
to charge someone an unfairly high price
to force out or badly damage an eye or body part by digging into it
Noun
a rough groove, hole, or deep scratch in a surface
a chisel with a curved blade used for carving
Beyond the definition
To gouge something is to cut, dig, or scoop deeply into it, usually in a rough or forceful way. A sharp tool might gouge a line into wood, and a rock might gouge the side of a car or boat. The word is also used for money: if someone gouges you, they charge far too much, often because they know you have little choice. A shop might gouge customers during an emergency, or a mechanic might gouge you with an unfair bill. In all these uses, the idea is the same: something is taken out, cut into, or forced too far.
The word "gouge" is used when something is cut into, scooped out, or damaged in a deep and forceful way. In a physical sense, it can describe making a long, deep mark or hole. A knife might gouge wood, a falling bike pedal might gouge a wall, or a sharp rock might gouge the bottom of a boat. The damage is usually more than a light scratch; it suggests that material has been torn out or pushed aside.
The word also has a common money-related meaning. If a person or business gouges people, they charge much more than is fair. This often comes up in phrases like "price gouging," especially when prices rise sharply during a storm, disaster, or other urgent situation. In this use, the word suggests taking money from people in a harsh and unfair way.
There is also a related noun meaning: a "gouge" can be a deep cut or hollow mark, and it can also be a curved tool used for carving wood or stone. These meanings are connected by the same core image of digging into a surface and removing material.
So whether someone gouges a piece of wood, gouges a deep mark into metal, or gouges customers with unfair prices, the word carries the sense of force, damage, or taking too much.
Examples
- 1
Physical damage
A sharp rock gouged a deep mark in the side of the car.
- 2
Carving
Someone had gouged their initials into the wooden desk.
- Patterngouge + words/marks into + surface
cut them into that surface
- 3
Repair bill
The mechanic tried to gouge us on a simple repair.
- Patterngouge someone on + service/purchase
charge too much for it
- 4
Hotel charges
The hotel gouged guests for bottled water and Wi-Fi.
- Patterngouge someone for + item/service
make them pay far too much
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Emergency prices
After the storm, several shops were investigated for price gouging.
- Phraseprice gouging
raising prices unfairly when people urgently need something
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- gougenounverb
Forms
- gouging-ing formverbnoun
- gougedpast tenseverbnoun
- gougespluralnounverb