# bloat

> English word · Verb · IPA /bləʊt/ · frequency rank #46,939

## Definitions
1. To cause to become distended.
2. To get an overdistended rumen, talking of a ruminant.
3. To fill soft substance with gas, water, etc.; to cause to swell.
4. To become distended; to swell up.
5. To fill with vanity or conceit.
6. To preserve by slightly salting and lightly smoking.
7. To increase to an excessive amount.

## Etymology
Perhaps from Middle English blot, blout (“soft; flexible; pliable”), from Old Norse blautr (“soft”). Akin to Danish blød, Dutch bloot (“nude”) and German bloß (“nude”).

## Easily confused with
- **bot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bloat-vs-bot)
- **boa** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bloat-vs-boa)
- **blog** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bloat-vs-blog)
- **boat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bloat-vs-boat)
- **blow** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bloat-vs-blow)
- **boot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bloat-vs-boot)
- **bout** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bloat-vs-bout)
- **bolt** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bloat-vs-bolt)
- **bloc** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bloat-vs-bloc)
- **brat** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bloat-vs-brat)
- **boar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bloat-vs-boar)
- **blob** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bloat-vs-blob)
- **blot** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bloat-vs-blot)
- **Boas** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bloat-vs-boas)
- **blood** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bloat-vs-blood)
- **block** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bloat-vs-block)
- **broad** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bloat-vs-broad)
- **boost** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bloat-vs-boost)
- **boats** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bloat-vs-boats)
- **blown** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bloat-vs-blown)

## Common misspellings (7)
`bbloat`, `blaot`, `blloat`, `bloatt`, `blota`, `bolat`, `lboat`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/bloat