: a mallet used (as by a presiding officer or auctioneer) for commanding attention or confirming an action (such as a vote or sale)
gaveled or gavelled; gaveling or gavelling
ˈga-v(ə-)liŋ 
: to bring or force by use of a gavel
gaveled the audience to silence
Examples of gavel in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Mike Lillis, The Hill, 6 Nov. 2024
In the fight of his political life, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan last week staved off a challenge from the right wing of his party, but now some GOP lawmakers are revamping their effort to keep the Beaumont Republican from keeping the speaker's gavel for another term.
—Hogan Gore, Austin American-Statesman, 4 June 2024
Juliegrace Brufke, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024
In recent years, the Senate has used pro-forma sessions to gavel in even when the chamber is on recess in part to avoid recess appointments.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 19 Nov. 2024
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Noun
The Louisiana Republican won the gavel after last year’s historic ouster of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), catapulting him from the vice chair of the House GOP conference to the top lawmaker in the chamber in a stunning fashion.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 6 Nov. 2024
In the fight of his political life, Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan last week staved off a challenge from the right wing of his party, but now some GOP lawmakers are revamping their effort to keep the Beaumont Republican from keeping the speaker's gavel for another term.
—Hogan Gore, Austin American-Statesman, 4 June 2024
Verb
Scalise's support gives Barr a clear advantage to win one of the most coveted committee gavels in the next Congress.
—Juliegrace Brufke, Axios, 20 Nov. 2024
In recent years, the Senate has used pro-forma sessions to gavel in even when the chamber is on recess in part to avoid recess appointments.
—Kaia Hubbard, CBS News, 19 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gavel
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Cite this Entry
“Gavel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gavel. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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