# gut

/ˈɡət/ (US) · /ɡˈʌt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gut
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 2. a large belly

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a person's stomach, especially if it is large or fat.

For teachers: the human abdomen, particularly when prominent or enlarged.

- He has developed a bit of a gut since he stopped going to the gym.
- The protagonist was described as a jovial man with a protruding gut that shook whenever he laughed.

### 3. instinct or feeling

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a strong feeling about something that is not based on facts.

For teachers: an instinctive or visceral feeling rather than a conscious reasoning process.

- My gut told me that something was wrong, even though he seemed nice.
- Despite the lack of empirical evidence, the detective followed his gut and kept the suspect under surveillance.

### 4. courage

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

the bravery or determination needed to do something difficult.

For teachers: personal courage, fortitude, or determination.

- It took a lot of guts to tell the boss that her idea wouldn't work.
- The young athlete showed immense guts by finishing the race despite a painful ankle injury.

Usage: Almost always used in the plural form 'guts' in this sense.

### 6. to remove the inside

verb · CEFR B2

to remove the internal organs of a fish or animal before cooking it.

For teachers: to eviscerate an animal; by extension, to remove the internal contents of a building or the essential parts of a plan.

- We spent the afternoon learning how to gut and clean the fish we caught.
- The developers plan to gut the old warehouse and convert it into luxury loft apartments.

### 7. instinctive

adjective · CEFR B2 · Informal

describing a feeling or reaction that is deep and automatic rather than logical.

For teachers: visceral or instinctive; relating to a primary emotional response.

- My gut reaction was to say no, but I decided to think about it first.
- The CEO relied on a gut instinct that had served him well throughout his thirty-year career in finance.

Usage: Usually appears before a noun, such as 'gut feeling' or 'gut reaction'.

## Examples

- I had a bad feeling in my gut about the deal.
- The doctor explained that a healthy gut is essential for maintaining a strong immune system.
- While the data suggested the investment was sound, the CEO decided to follow her gut and declined the offer, a move that later saved the company from bankruptcy.

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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.