retch: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Informal, Medical, Descriptive
Quick answer
What does “retch” mean?
To make the involuntary motion of vomiting or trying to vomit, often accompanied by sound but without actually expelling stomach contents.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To make the involuntary motion of vomiting or trying to vomit, often accompanied by sound but without actually expelling stomach contents.
More broadly, to experience a sudden, intense spasm of disgust or revulsion; a physical convulsion akin to gagging.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant meaning differences. UK spelling sometimes appears as 'retch', but 'retch' is standard in both. Both use the verb and noun forms identically.
Connotations
Equally graphic and unpleasant in both dialects. Associated with nausea, foul smells, or extreme disgust.
Frequency
Slightly higher relative frequency in American English according to some corpora, but the word is uncommon in everyday conversation in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “retch” in a Sentence
[Subject] retches[Subject] retches + [Adverbial (e.g., violently, uncontrollably)]The smell made [Object] retch.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “retch” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The foul stench from the bins made him retch.
- She rushed to the loo, retching violently.
American English
- The smell of the dumpster made her retch.
- He was dry-retching over the bathroom sink.
adverb
British English
- [No adverb form.]
American English
- [No adverb form.]
adjective
British English
- [No standard adjective form. 'Retching' is a participle.]
American English
- [No standard adjective form.]
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in medical/biological contexts to describe a physiological reflex.
Everyday
Used to describe a strong reaction to something disgusting or nauseating.
Technical
Medical term for the spasmodic movement of the diaphragm and abdominal muscles preceding emesis.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “retch”
- Misspelling as 'wretch'.
- Using it to mean actual vomiting.
- Incorrect pronunciation as /riːtʃ/ (like 'reach').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. To retch is to make the involuntary physical effort to vomit (heaving, gagging). To vomit is to actually eject the contents of the stomach. You can retch without vomiting.
Yes, though less common. 'A retch' or 'retches' refers to the act or sound of retching (e.g., 'He gave a dry retch').
It is neutral but graphic. It is appropriate in medical writing and descriptive prose but may be considered too vivid for very formal or delicate contexts.
A retch where nothing is brought up from the stomach, often occurring when the stomach is empty but the nausea reflex continues.
To make the involuntary motion of vomiting or trying to vomit, often accompanied by sound but without actually expelling stomach contents.
Retch: in British English it is pronounced /rɛtʃ/, and in American English it is pronounced /rɛtʃ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms with 'retch' as the key word]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'wretch' (a miserable person) – a wretch might make you feel so disgusted you *retch*.
Conceptual Metaphor
DISGUST IS A PHYSICAL CONVULSION / REJECTION.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary distinction between 'retch' and 'vomit'?