gas
gb/ɡˈæs/ us/ɡˈæs/
A2
English
~ 1300
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Substance in gaseous state
A kind of matter, like air, that spreads out to fill any space.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'gas' (state of matter) with 'gasoline', which is a liquid fuel.
Synonyms
vapor (Refers especially to the gaseous form of a substance that is normally liquid or solid at room temperature.)
Antonyms
liquid (The opposite physical state of matter, having a fixed volume but no fixed shape.)
Collocations
natural gas
|toxic gas
|gas leak
|gas mask
|gas cylinder
Themes
science
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Carbon dioxide is a colorless gas.
- Helium is a light gas often used in balloons.
- The leak was releasing poisonous gas into the room.
- Oxygen is the gas we need to breathe.
- Steam is water in its gas form.
Learner examples
- Air is a kind of gas.
- Oxygen is a gas we breathe.
- Helium is a gas in balloons.
- The gas in the room is dangerous.
Noun
A2
entity
2
Fuel for engines or heating
A fuel like gasoline or natural gas used in cars, machines, or for heating buildings.
Common mistake:
In American English, 'gas' usually means gasoline, but in British English, 'petrol' is used instead. Learners may confuse the two.
Synonyms
fuel (A general term for any energy source used to power engines or produce heat.)
Antonyms
electricity (An alternative source of power for vehicles and machines instead of fuel.)
Collocations
run out of gas
|gas station
|gas tank
|gas bill
Themes
transportation
|energy
|technology
|daily_life
Examples
- I need to stop at the gas station before we leave.
- Natural gas is used to heat many homes.
- The car ran out of gas on the highway.
- Gas prices have gone up again this month.
- We cook with gas at home.
Learner examples
- We buy gas for the car.
- The bus uses gas to run.
- Gas can heat the house.
- Gas prices are high today.
Noun
informal
B1
event
3
Very fun or amusing event
A very fun or funny time.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this is informal and somewhat old-fashioned slang in modern usage.
Synonyms
blast (Informal term for an enjoyable experience.)
Antonyms
bore (A dull or uninteresting experience.)
Collocations
such a gas
|real gas
Themes
emotions
|slang
|arts_entertainment
|daily_life
Examples
- That party was such a gas!
- We had a real gas at the concert last night.
- He's always a gas to be around.
Learner examples
- The party was a gas.
- We had a gas at the park.
- He is a gas to talk to.
Verb
B1
action
4
Provide with fuel gas or vapor
To put gas fuel into something like a car or tank.
Usage pattern:
to gas [something] up
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'gas' as a verb meaning to fuel with 'gas' meaning to poison with gas; context is important.
Synonyms
refuel (General term for supplying fuel to a vehicle or machine.)
Antonyms
drain (To remove fuel from a tank or system.)
Collocations
gas up the car
|gassed heater
Themes
transportation
|energy
|technology
Examples
- We need to gas up before the trip.
- They gassed the balloons with helium.
- The soldiers gassed their equipment before deployment.
Learner examples
- I will gas up the car now.
- They gassed the balloons with air.
- We gassed the car yesterday.
Verb
B2
action
5
Kill or injure using poisonous gas
To hurt or kill people or animals using harmful gas.
Usage pattern:
to gas [someone/something]
Synonyms
poison (General term for causing harm using toxic substances.)
Antonyms
rescue (To save someone from harm instead of causing it.)
Collocations
gas chamber
|gassed civilians
Themes
warfare
|crime
|health
|law
Examples
- The regime gassed thousands of civilians.
- They were gassed during the chemical attack.
- The dictator ordered his troops to gas the enemy trenches.
Learner examples
- The soldiers gassed the enemy.
- They gassed people in the war.
- The man gassed many animals.
Grammar
Dictionary form
gas
IPA
GB/ɡˈæs/
US/ɡˈæs/
Syllables & stress
gas (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (gas)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: gas
- Plural: gas, gases, gasses
Verb
- Base: gas
- 3rd Person Singular: gases
- Present Participle: gassing
- Past: gassed
Word family
Forms
gases
noun
gasses
noun
gassing
verb
gassed
verb
Core family
gasoline
noun B1
gaseous
adjective
Related words
gassy
adjective
Advanced or less common
gasify
verb
gasification
noun
Highlights
- Irregular present participle: gassing Verb
- Irregular past: gassed Verb
Expressions
cooking with gas
1/kˈʊkɪŋ wˈɪθ ɡˈæs/
idiom
informal
Working efficiently and effectively now
Doing something well and effectively after starting slowly.
Examples
- Now you're cooking with gas—this project is finally coming together!
- After fixing the bugs, the team was really cooking with gas.
gas up
1/ɡˈæs ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
Put fuel into a vehicle's tank
To fill a vehicle's tank with fuel.
Examples
- We need to gas up before driving to the mountains.
- She gassed up her car at the station near work.
hit the gas
1/hˈɪt ðə ɡˈæs/
idiom
informal
Accelerate a vehicle quickly
To press down on the accelerator pedal quickly so the car goes faster.
Examples
- He hit the gas as soon as the light turned green.
- Hit the gas—we're late!
run out of gas
1/ɹˈʌn ˈaʊt əv ɡˈæs/
idiom
Have no more fuel or energy
To have no more fuel in a vehicle; also, to feel too tired to continue doing something.
Examples
- We ran out of gas on the highway and had to call for help.
- Halfway through the game, the team ran out of gas and lost momentum.
step on the gas
1/stˈɛp ˈɔn ðə ɡˈæs/
idiom
Go faster or hurry up
To press the car's accelerator pedal; also, to start doing something faster.
Examples
- She stepped on the gas and passed the slow truck.
- If we want to finish on time, we need to step on the gas.