plural socks
1
archaic
: a low shoe or slipper
2
also plural sox
ˈsäks 
: a knitted or woven covering for the foot usually worn under shoes and extending above the ankle and sometimes to the knee
: a knitted or woven covering for the foot usually worn under shoes and extending above the ankle and sometimes to the knee
3
a
: a shoe worn by actors in Greek and Roman comedy
b
: comic drama
socked; socking; socks
: to hit, strike, or apply forcefully
sock a home run
an area socked by a blizzard
: to deliver a blow : hit
: a vigorous or violent blow
also
: punch entry 3 sense 3
Phrases
sock it to
slang
: to subject to or as if to a vigorous assault
they may let you off the first time … but the second time they'll sock it to you—
James Jones
James JonesSynonyms
Noun (1)
Verb
- bang
- bash
- bat
- belt
- biff
- bludgeon
- bob
- bonk
- bop
- box
- bust
- clap
- clip
- clobber
- clock
- clout
- crack
- hammer
- hit
- knock
- nail
- paste
- pound
- punch
- rap
- slam
- slap
- slog
- slug
- smack
- smite
- strike
- swat
- swipe
- tag
- thump
- thwack
- wallop
- whack
- whale
- zap
Noun (2)
- bang
- bash
- bat
- beat
- belt
- biff
- blow
- bop
- box
- buffet
- bust
- chop
- clap
- clip
- clout
- crack
- cuff
- dab
- douse [British]
- fillip
- hack
- haymaker
- hit
- hook
- knock
- larrup [dialect]
- lash
- lick
- pelt
- pick
- plump
- poke
- pound
- punch
- rap
- slam
- slap
- slug
- smack
- smash
- spank
- stinger
- stripe
- stroke
- swat
- swipe
- switch
- thud
- thump
- thwack
- wallop
- welt
- whack
- wham
- whop
- whap
Examples of sock in a Sentence
Noun (1)
black socks to go with black pants and shoes
Verb
kept socking the punching bag until he was exhausted
Noun (2)
a wiseacre who deserves a good sock in the face
Recent Examples on the Web
Melanie Radzicki McManus, CNN, 27 Jan. 2025
Take it from a mom who once had to cut a sledding trip short because her son managed to a) find the only source of running water for miles, and b) break through the ice on top, completely soaking his boots and socks.
—Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan, Outside Online, 27 Jan. 2025
Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 27 Jan. 2025
When Jagger arrived at Altamont in a helicopter, a fan socked him in the face.
—Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for sock 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Noun
The center urges people to limit their exposure to BPA by removing sportswear and socks immediately after workouts and avoiding clothing made from polyester with spandex, among other protective measures.
—Melanie Radzicki McManus, CNN, 27 Jan. 2025
Take it from a mom who once had to cut a sledding trip short because her son managed to a) find the only source of running water for miles, and b) break through the ice on top, completely soaking his boots and socks.
—Elisabeth Kwak-Hefferan, Outside Online, 27 Jan. 2025
Verb
And countries whose shipments to the U.S. are socked with tariffs could retaliate with their own levies on U.S. exports, further denting the economy.
—Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 27 Jan. 2025
When Jagger arrived at Altamont in a helicopter, a fan socked him in the face.
—Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for sock
Dictionary Entries Near sock
Cite this Entry
“Sock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sock. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sock
2 of 3 verb
: to hit, strike, or apply forcefully : deliver a blow
sock
3 of 3 noun
: a violent blow : punch
Etymology
Noun
Old English socc "a low shoe or slipper," from Latin soccus (same meaning)
Verb
origin unknown
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