tuck
verb (used with object)
to put into a small, close, or concealing place.
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tuck
1 American
[tuhk]
/ tʌk /
verb (used with object)
-
tucks,
present (3rd person singular)
-
tucked,
past participle, past
-
tucking
present participle
-
to put into a small, close, or concealing place.
Tuck the money into your wallet.
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to thrust in the loose end or edge of (a garment, covering, etc.) so as to hold closely in place (usually followed by in, up, under, etc.).
Tuck in your blouse.
Tuck the edge of the sheet under the mattress.
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to cover snugly in or as if in this manner.
She tucked the children into bed.
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to pull up into a fold or folds; draw up into a folded arrangement (usually followed by in, up, etc.).
to tuck up one's skirts;
to tuck one's knees under one's chin.
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Needlework. to sew tucks in.
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to pass (a strand) above or below another one.
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Informal. to eat or drink (usually followed by in, away, etc.).
He tucked away a big meal.
verb (used without object)
-
tucks,
present (3rd person singular)
-
tucked,
past participle, past
-
tucking
present participle
-
Needlework. to make tucks.
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to fit securely or snugly.
a bed that tucks into the corner.
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to secure one's penis between one's legs so that the crotch is flat, often done by gender-diverse people as part of their gender expression.
When I'm performing, I usually tuck, because it makes me feel more confident.
noun
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something tucked or folded in.
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Sewing. a fold, or one of a series of folds, made by doubling cloth upon itself and stitching parallel with the edge of the fold, used for decoration or for shortening or fitting a garment.
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Diving, Gymnastics. a body position in which the head is lowered and the thighs held against the chest with the knees bent and the arms locked around the shins.
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Skiing. a crouch in which the ski poles are held close to the chest, extending back under the arms and parallel to the ground, as to maximize speed downhill.
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Informal. a plastic surgery operation.
a tummy tuck.
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Nautical. the part of a vessel where the after ends of the outside planking or plating unite at the sternpost.
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(in tying knots) the operation of passing one strand above or below another.
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British Slang. food.
verb phrase
tuck
2
American
[tuhk]
/ tʌk /
noun
Informal.
tuck
3
American
[tuhk]
/ tʌk /
noun
Archaic.
tuck
4
American
[tuhk]
/ tʌk /
noun
Chiefly Scot.
tuck
1
British
/ tʌk /
verb
-
(tr) to push or fold into a small confined space or concealed place or between two surfaces
to tuck a letter into an envelope
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(tr) to thrust the loose ends or sides of (something) into a confining space, so as to make neat and secure
to tuck the sheets under the mattress
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to make a tuck or tucks in (a garment)
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(usually tr) to draw together, contract, or pucker
noun
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a tucked object or part
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a pleat or fold in a part of a garment, usually stitched down so as to make it a better fit or as decoration
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the part of a vessel where the after ends of the planking or plating meet at the sternpost
-
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an informal or schoolchild's word for food, esp cakes and sweets
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( as modifier )
a tuck box
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a position of the body in certain dives in which the legs are bent with the knees drawn up against the chest and tightly clasped
tuck
2
British
/ tʌk /
noun
verb
-
(tr) to touch or strike
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(intr) to throb or bump
Tuck
3
British
/ tʌk /
noun
tuck
4
British
/ tʌk /
noun
tuck
Idioms
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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tucksimple
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tuckssimple
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have tuckedperfect
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has tuckedperfect
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am tuckingprogressive
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are tuckingprogressive
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is tuckingprogressive
-
have been tuckingperfect progressive
-
has been tuckingperfect progressive
Past
-
tuckedsimple
-
had tuckedperfect
-
was tuckingprogressive
-
were tuckingprogressive
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had been tuckingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of tuck1
First recorded before 900; Middle English t(o)uken “to stretch (cloth), torment,” Old English tūcian “to torment”; akin to Middle Low German tucken “to tug,” German zucken “to jerk”; see tow 1
Origin of tuck2
By shortening and respelling
Origin of tuck3
First recorded in 1500–10; earlier tocke, apparently phonetic variant of obsolete stock “sword,” from Italian stocco, from German Stock “stick”; cognate with stock
Origin of tuck4
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English tukken “to beat, sound (said of a drum),” from Middle French (north) toker “to strike, touch”; see touch
Explanation
To tuck is to fold, gather, or insert, like the way you tuck your sheets under your mattress when you make the bed in the morning or the way you tuck your lucky stuffed unicorn into your backpack on the day of a big test. You can tuck your shirt into your waistband, and tuck your jeans into your cowboy boots. You can also tuck a child into bed or tuck your book under your arm to carry it. The verb tuck can also be used informally to mean "eat with gusto," like when you tuck into a giant bowl of spaghetti.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Cut the pastry into roughly nine 3-inch squares and tuck each one into a prepared muffin tin, leaving the corners to rise jauntily above the cups.
From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2026
We may find out within days, but he is likely to come under real pressure, including from some of his allies, to tuck in behind Burnham to enable a swift transition.
From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2026
Something to celebrate, fun trivia to tuck away for later.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 16, 2026
One night, my then 9-year-old son came in to tuck me in.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 13, 2026
I back up and tuck my hands behind me.
From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas
Prof Tuck Seng Wong is the director of the UK-Southeast Asia Vaccine Manufacturing Research Hub but was not involved in the study.
From BBC ● Aug. 5, 2026
Mack learned the importance of passing down knowledge as a youngster in Oakland under the tutelage of seasoned veterans Charles Woodson and Justin Tuck.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 2, 2026
The weather has always been part of the drama—the 1967 Ice Bowl, the 2002 Tuck Rule game, any number of moments where the conditions became characters in the story.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
Mr. Tuck must be praised for enabling us, finally, to put names to mere numbers.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 2, 2026
"Tuck your tail in, little duck," I say, smoothing the blouse back in place.
From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins
There’s no mention of taking a beat to process with Olivia; John simply leads Griffin to their bedroom and tucks her in.
From Salon ● Jun. 25, 2026
He tries to spend 60 uninterrupted minutes a day with his sons; when he tucks the eldest into bed, they play a word game and then pray.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026
Dorinnia Carville said about 12,000 operations, which include tummy tucks and tonsillectomies, were carried out in 2023-24 without any assurance they complied with government policy.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2025
Relaxed neither in voice nor body, he tucks his lips inside his mouth and stretches it into a variety of blobby shapes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 18, 2025
At some point Miss Love made the mistake of remarking that Loma had just the perfect figure for the stylish new shirtwaists with lots of tucks and ruffles in front.
From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns
Casey and Gen’s journey from competitors to confidantes is the film’s familiar emotional center, but tucked into an unfamiliar narrative.
From Salon ● Aug. 18, 2026
He made sure cameras followed him to his father’s favorite Rio bakery Saturday where he tucked into his father’s signature sweet treat of bread slathered with condensed milk.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
Liechtenstein is a tiny, doubly-landlocked country tucked away between Switzerland and Austria, whose ruler enjoys sweeping political powers, unlike many of his counterparts in Europe.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
Between my sobs and his sighs, the other servers tucked past, wondering what was happening but not really wanting to deal with the crazy person watching their co-worker badger-dig into the bowels of this cabinet.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
Then, later, he tucked it under the corner of the living room rug and squashed it down carefully with his foot.
From "All About Sam" by Lois Lowry
American and Chinese business leaders dotted the hall, tucking into dishes like lobster in tomato soup, crispy beef ribs, Beijing roast duck and tiramisu.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 14, 2026
Add the jammy egg pieces last, tucking them in with care so their custardy centers remain visible.
From Salon ● Apr. 14, 2026
"I have not prepared for loss," Anutin said, tucking into a bowl of noodle soup alongside party members in the capital's Chinatown neighbourhood.
From Barron's ● Feb. 5, 2026
Imagine ditching the turkey on Christmas Day and popping out for an Indian meal or tucking into traditional French cuisine instead.
From BBC ● Dec. 24, 2025
“Fine! Dropped my hairbrush. I’ll walk over with you guys. Gimme a second,” I yell while grabbing the phone and tucking it between my mattress and the wall.
From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
