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
The brands fueling the trend The category has grown well beyond enzymes alone, folding in a broader anti-bloat routine that stacks prebiotics, probiotics and fiber. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2026 As streaming platforms bloat with endless offerings and attention spans shrink, the likelihood that anything will stick seems increasingly atypical. — Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
That process can also reduce some FODMAPs, carbohydrates that may cause bloating, gas and other symptoms in people with IBS. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2026 One study found that walking for 10 to 15 minutes after each meal for a month worked better at reducing bloating than medication. — Heidi Cope, HEALTH, 29 Sep. 2026
Noun
Social media is awash with posts from people using LLMs and open-source tools to remove ads and tracking, trim bloat so the OS runs faster, and even completely change the look and organization of their homescreens. — John Higgins, The Verge, 23 Oct. 2026 Patients lose out because the administrative bloat inflates the cost of medical care, while making costs less transparent and harder to contest. — Leah Pierson, STAT, 6 Oct. 2026 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

1854, 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

bloak
bloat
bloat colic
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bloat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bloat. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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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

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bloat

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