gross out: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Informal, colloquial, slang
Quick answer
What does “gross out” mean?
To cause someone to feel intense disgust or revulsion.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To cause someone to feel intense disgust or revulsion.
The state or experience of being disgusted; something that disgusts. Also used as a phrasal verb and as a compound adjective/verb.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More common in American English, but fully understood in British English. The base adjective "gross" (disgusting) is somewhat more prevalent in AmE.
Connotations
Strongly associated with teenage/young adult slang, low-brow comedy, and visceral reactions.
Frequency
Higher frequency in AmE, particularly in spoken, informal contexts. In BrE, synonyms like "disgust" or "revolt" may be used in more formal settings.
Grammar
How to Use “gross out” in a Sentence
[Subject] grosses [Object] out.[Object] get grossed out by [Subject].It grossed me out.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gross out” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The mouldy food in the fridge really grossed me out.
- He loves to gross out his little sister with fake insects.
American English
- That slimy texture totally grosses me out.
- They tried to gross out the audience with their special effects.
adjective
British English
- He's into gross-out comedy films full of fake blood.
- It was a gross-out moment when she stepped in the mud.
American English
- The movie is a classic gross-out fest from the 80s.
- His humour is pretty gross-out sometimes.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Potentially in informal discussions about offensive marketing.
Academic
Rarely used, except perhaps in analyses of pop culture or linguistics.
Everyday
Common in informal speech among friends, family, especially younger speakers.
Technical
Not used in technical contexts.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gross out”
- Using "gross out" in formal writing.
- Incorrectly conjugating: "It gross out me" instead of "It grosses me out."
- Using as a non-separable phrasal verb: "I grossed out by it" instead of "I was grossed out by it."
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is strictly informal/slang and should be avoided in formal writing.
Yes, informally, as in "That movie was a total gross-out."
"Gross out" is more informal, visceral, and often used for physical, immediate reactions, while "disgust" can cover moral and abstract revulsion and is more neutral in register.
For the verb: 'grossed out' (He grossed me out). For the adjective/passive: 'was grossed out' (I was grossed out).
To cause someone to feel intense disgust or revulsion.
Gross out: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡrəʊs ˈaʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡroʊs ˈaʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “gross-out artist (someone who specializes in disgusting humour)”
- “grossed out of one's mind (extremely disgusted)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a GROSS (disgusting) thing being taken OUT of a bin – it would gross you out.
Conceptual Metaphor
DISGUST IS A PHYSICAL FORCE EJECTING SOMEONE ("gross OUT").
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'gross out' correctly?