Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
hiccupping
verb (present participle)
/ˈhɪk.əp.ɪŋ/
Definition
The act or instance of making involuntary sounds produced by a spasm of the diaphragm.
Examples
- After eating too fast, he started hiccupping uncontrollably.
- She couldn’t finish her speech due to the constant hiccupping.
- Hiccupping often happens when you are excited or nervous.
Meaning
Hiccupping occurs when the diaphragm, a muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen, contracts involuntarily, causing a sudden intake of breath that is then interrupted by the closure of the vocal cords.
Synonyms
- Hiccuping
- Hiccup
- Spasm
