Retch is a word for trying to vomitto bring food or liquid up from the stomach through the mouth without actually bringing anything up, or for the spasmssudden, uncontrolled muscle contractions or jerking movements that happen during that effort. It can also be a noun for that kind of involuntaryhappening without conscious control or a deliberate choice gagging movement.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Pronunciation

AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).

Accent: General American English

IPA: /rɛʧ/

Easy pronunciation: RETCH (approximate spelling).

Stress: One syllable; the stress is on the only syllable.

Verb sense: make an unsuccessful effort to vomit; strain to vomit.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Retch Meaning

to gag and try to throw up, but not actually vomit

Part of speech: verb

Definition: make an unsuccessful effort to vomit; strain to vomit

Example: The smell of the garbage made him retch.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• gag — A close everyday substitute for the action of trying to vomit.
• heave — Can mean the same vomiting effort or motion in this sense.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Other Meanings of Retch

Meaning 2

a gagging spasm or dry heave

Part of speech: noun

Definition: an involuntary spasm of ineffectual vomiting

Example: He was racked by dry retches after the sudden illness.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• heave — Used for the involuntary spasm itself in this noun sense.

Meaning 3

to vomit

Part of speech: verb

Definition: eject the contents of the stomach through the mouth

Example: The motion sickness made her vomit on the bus.

Synonyms for this meaning:

• barf — Informal equivalent for vomiting.
• be sick — Common in British English for vomiting.
• cast — Can mean vomit, but is less common and more dialectal/archaic.
• cat — Informal slang for vomiting.
• chuck — Informal British slang for vomiting.
• disgorge — Can mean vomit in formal or figurative usage.
• honk — Slang for vomiting.
• puke — Common informal synonym.
• purge — Can mean vomit in older or more formal usage, but may suggest emptying out generally.
• regorge — Rare word meaning to bring up again or vomit.
• regurgitate — Can mean vomit, though it also has other meanings.
• sick — Used as a verb meaning vomit in some varieties of English.
• spew — Can mean vomit, often with a forceful or figurative sense.
• spue — Older spelling/variant of spew, meaning vomit.
• throw up — Very common everyday synonym.
• upchuck — Informal synonym.
• vomit — Direct, standard synonym.
• vomit up — Redundant but understandable informal phrase.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Retch Synonyms

Similar Meaning

• gag
• heave

to vomit

• barf
• be sick
• cast
• cat
• chuck
• disgorge
• honk
• puke
• purge
• regorge
• regurgitate
• sick
• spew
• spue
• throw up
• upchuck
• vomit
• vomit up

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Common Mistakes

• Using retch to mean simply 'vomit' in every context; retch usually means the dry-heaving effort, not the actual expulsion.
• Confusing retch the verb with the noun retch, which names the spasm or episode.
• Mixing retch with regurgitate, which can have broader meanings beyond vomiting.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does retch mean?

Retch means to gag and make an unsuccessful effort to vomit. It can also be used as a noun for that involuntary gagging spasm.

Is retch the same as vomit?

Not exactly. Retch usually describes the attempt or dry heave, while vomit means to bring stomach contents up.

What are common synonyms for retch?

For the main sense, common synonyms are gag and heave. For the sense 'vomit,' common synonyms include throw up and vomit.

Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-20. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.