sob

1 of 3

verb

ˈsäb 

sobbed; sobbing

intransitive verb

1

a

: to catch the breath audibly in a spasmodic contraction of the throat

b

: to cry or weep with convulsive catching of the breath

2

: to make a sound like that of a sob or sobbing

transitive verb

1

: to bring to a specified state by sobbing

sobbed himself to sleep

2

: to utter with sobs

sobbed out her grief

sob

2 of 3

noun (1)

1

: an act of sobbing

2

: a sound like that of a sob

SOB

3 of 3

noun (2)

ˌes-ˌō-ˈbē 

plural SOBs or SOB's

slang, sometimes offensive

: son of a bitch

He's one arrogant/tough/greedy SOB.

… a guy who brought two dozen roses to a first coffee date and told you he felt like the luckiest SOB on the planet in the first five minutes.

—Today

Synonyms

Verb

• bawl
• blub [chiefly British]
• blubber
• cry
• weep

Examples of sob in a Sentence

Verb

He began to sob uncontrollably.

She could not stop sobbing.

“I hate you,” she sobbed.

Noun (2)

I hate that miserable SOB.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

While eldest daughter Wyatt, 5, looked overwhelmed, and youngest daughter Bennett, 21 months, sobbed, middle child Elliotte (aka Ellie), 3, wore a big smile on her face. —Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2024

In the days and weeks that followed, Alexander came to dread the hours after bedtime, when Daphna, who kept her emotions in check all day for Olivia and Zoë, broke down, sobbing for much of the night like someone in physical pain. —Julia Whelan Krish Seenivasan Lance Neal, New York Times, 25 Nov. 2024

Noun

Audible sobs could be heard as deputies brought McMillian into the courtroom which was jam-packed with police officers and family members of the defendant and victims. —Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 7 Nov. 2024

Part of her job now involves watching a terrified Anna call Nina, begging for help and then crumpling onto the floor in sobs. —Sarene Leeds, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English sobben; akin to Middle Low German sabben to drool

Noun (2)

son of a bitch

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1918, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing sob

• sob sister
• sob story

Kids Definition

sob

1 of 2 verb

ˈsäb 

sobbed; sobbing

1

: to weep especially with short gasping sounds

2

: to bring to a specified state by sobbing

sobbed myself to sleep

3

a

: to make a sound like that of sobbing

the wind sobbed through the trees

b

: to utter with sobs

sobbed out their story

sob

2 of 2 noun

1

: an act of sobbing

2

: a sound of or like that of sobbing

Medical Definition

SOB

abbreviation

short of breath