# choked

/ˈtʃoʊkt/ (US) · /tʃˈəʊkt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/choked
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. unable to breathe

adjective · CEFR B1

unable to breathe because something is stuck in your throat or you are being squeezed.

For teachers: experiencing a restricted airway due to physical obstruction or external pressure.

- The boy was choked and coughing after he tried to swallow a large piece of apple.
- The victim was found alive but badly choked, showing visible bruising around the neck where the collar had been pulled too tight.

### 2. blocked or full

adjective · CEFR B2

completely filled or blocked so that nothing can move through.

For teachers: obstructed or congested by an accumulation of material, vegetation, or traffic.

- The garden was choked with weeds that had grown over the summer.
- The narrow city streets were choked with traffic, making it impossible for the emergency services to reach the scene quickly.

### 3. emotional

adjective · CEFR B2

having a tight feeling in your throat because you are about to cry.

For teachers: experiencing a constriction of the throat caused by strong emotion, typically grief or joy.

- She felt choked with emotion as she thanked her friends for their help.
- His voice sounded choked as he delivered the eulogy, forcing him to pause several times to regain his composure.

## Examples

- He choked on a piece of dry bread.
- She choked on her lunch and had to cough to clear her throat.
- The sudden onset of choking forced him to abandon his speech and seek immediate medical assistance from the audience.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.