gunk up
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Meaning · English
To soil or dirty; to mess up; to clog.
Register: informal
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
I don't want to gunk up my new shoes, so I'll wear the old ones in the garden.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “gunk up” mean?
To soil or dirty; to mess up; to clog.
Is “gunk up” formal or informal?
gunk up is generally informal.