suck

1 of 2

verb

ˈsək 

sucked; sucking; sucks

transitive verb

1

a

: to draw (something, such as liquid) into the mouth through a suction force produced by movements of the lips and tongue

sucked milk from his mother's breast

b

: to draw something from or consume by such movements

suck an orange

suck a lollipop

c

: to apply the mouth to in order to or as if to suck out a liquid

sucked his burned finger

2

a

: to draw by or as if by suction

when a receding wave sucks the sand from under your feet

—Kenneth Brower

inadvertently sucked into the … intrigue

—Martin Levin

b

: to take in and consume by or as if by suction

a vacuum cleaner sucking up dirt

suck up a few beers

opponents say that malls suck the life out of downtown areas

—Michael Knight

intransitive verb

1

: to draw something in by or as if by exerting a suction force

especially : to draw milk from a breast or udder with the mouth

2

: to make a sound or motion associated with or caused by suction

his pipe sucked wetly

flanks sucked in and out, the long nose resting on his paws

—Virginia Woolf

3

: to act in an obsequious manner

when they want votes … the candidates come sucking around

—W. G. Hardy

—usually used with up

sucked up to the boss

4

slang, sometimes vulgar : to be objectionable or inadequate

our lifestyle sucks

—Playboy

people who went said it sucked

—H. S. Thompson

suck

2 of 2

noun

1

: a sucking movement or force

2

: the act of sucking

Phrases

suck it up

: to make the effort required to do or deal with something difficult or unpleasant

Synonyms

Verb

• bite [informal + sometimes impolite]
• smell
• stink

Examples of suck in a Sentence

Verb

sucking milk through a straw

a toddler sucking his thumb

She just sucked her teeth and stared.

She sucked on an orange slice.

I sucked a cough drop.

The tide almost sucked us out to sea.

The boat was sucked under the water in the storm.

These plants suck moisture from the soil.

The fan sucks smoke from the air.

a vacuum cleaner that sucks up water as well as dirt

Noun

He took a suck on his pipe.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

That’s the fun thing for me, is there’s no reason the next one couldn’t suck back in and be a chamber piece again. —Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2022

Despite its appearance, the hummingbird’s tongue doesn't suck up nectar like a drinking straw. —National Geographic, 13 Jan. 2023

Noun

Because losing half of your water on the commute from the water source back home sucks. —Graham Averill, Outside Online, 31 Oct. 2024

Speaking of folks who probably owe some sorrys: Uber capped off its year of suck with the release of a potentially key piece of evidence in its ongoing lawsuit with Waymo. —Aarian Marshall, WIRED, 22 Dec. 2017

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English suken, from Old English sūcan; akin to Old High German sūgan to suck, Latin sugere

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing suck

• milk/bleed/suck (someone or something) dry
• suck in
• suck it and see
• suck-up
• time suck

Kids Definition

suck

1 of 2 verb

ˈsək 

1

a

: to draw in liquid and especially mother's milk with the mouth

b

: to draw liquid from by action of the mouth

suck an orange

also : to draw something from or consume by such action

suck a candy

c

: to apply the mouth to in order to or as if to suck out a liquid

sucked my thumb

2

: to take something in or up or remove something from by or as if by suction

plants sucking moisture from the soil

3

: to act in an overly flattering or attentive manner

suck up to the boss

suck

2 of 2 noun

1

: a sucking movement or force

2

: the act of sucking

Medical Definition

suck

transitive verb

ˈsək 

1

: to draw (as liquid) into the mouth through a suction force produced by movements of the lips and tongue

sucked milk from her mother's breast

2

: to draw out by suction

intransitive verb

: to draw something in by or as if by exerting a suction force

especially : to draw milk from a breast or udder with the mouth