choke up
Britishverb
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to block (a drain, pipe, etc) completely
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informal (usually passive) to overcome (a person) with emotion, esp without due cause
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Block a channel or other passage, as in Vegetation choked up the creek like a dam . [Late 1600s]
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Be too emotional or upset to speak, as in She became so emotional about winning that she choked up and was unable to give an interview .
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Become too nervous or tense in a critical situation to perform, as in He's fine during practice but in a match he tends to choke up . This usage, also put as to choke alone, is especially common in sports. [ Colloquial ; mid-1900s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
While at times the show has caused me to choke up slightly, I find myself more so tearful that the magic of my kids’ childhoods is passing by.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 8, 2026
If you know Veselka, you might choke up a bit.
From New York Times • Feb. 23, 2024
It was enough to make Madden choke up as he began his eulogy.
From Seattle Times • Jul. 31, 2023
At one point, he appeared to choke up during his address Thursday as he thanked his family members — both his daughter, Maya, and father, former District Attorney Gil Garcetti, were in the crowd.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2022
I’m glad I didn’t choke up there, ’cause now the whole school’s talking about that assembly.
From "Bronx Masquerade" by Nikki Grimes
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.