Definition of gibe
gibed
orjibed
;gibing
orjibing
intransitive verb
: to utter taunting words
transitive verb
: to deride or tease with taunting words gibed her about her weight
gibe
orjibe
noungiber
orjiber
nounIndulge Your Inner Word Nerd
gibe was our Word of the Day on 03/14/2015. Hear the podcast!
Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP
Examples of gibe in a Sentence
teammates gibing each other when one fouls up an important play
Recent Examples of gibe from the Web
-
The exhibit, which opens Tuesday and runs through Oct. 15, will gibe well with August’s opening of the museum’s long-in-the-works Unity Center, Meeker said.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gibe.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
Confused about "jibe" and "gibe"? The distinction actually isn't as clear-cut as some commentators would like it to be. "Jibe" is used both for the verb meaning "to be in accord," agree" ("jibe with") and for the nautical verb and noun ("jibe the mainsail," "a risky jibe in heavy seas"). "Gibe" is used for the verb "to deride or tease" and the noun "a taunting remark." But "jibe" is a recognized variant of "gibe," so it also has taunting or teasing uses. "Gibe" has been used occasionally as a variant of "jibe," but this use is very rare, and many people consider it to be an error.
Origin and Etymology of gibe
perhaps from Middle French giber to shake, handle roughly
Synonym Discussion of gibe
GIBE Defined for Kids
gibe
jibe
\ˈjīb\Definition of gibe for Students
gibed
orjibed
;gibing
orjibing
: to speak or tease with words that are insulting or scornful : jeer They gibed the boy about his tattered clothes.
gibe
jibe
Definition of gibe for Students
: an insulting or scornful remark : jeer He tried to ignore their hurtful gibes.
Learn More about gibe
-
See words that rhyme with gibe Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for gibe Spanish Central: Translation of gibe Nglish: Translation of gibe for Spanish speakers
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up gibe? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!