mock

American  

[mok] / mɒk /

verb (used with object)

mocks, present (3rd person singular) mocked, past participle, past mocking present participle

1. to attack or treat with ridicule, contempt, or derision.

   Synonyms:

   lampoon, parody, josh, tease, chaff, gibe, ridicule, scorn, deride

2. to ridicule by mimicry of action or speech; mimic derisively.

3. to mimic, imitate, or counterfeit.

4. to challenge; defy.

   His actions mock convention.

5. to deceive, delude, or disappoint.

   Synonyms:

   mislead, fool, dupe, cheat

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verb (used without object)

mocks, present (3rd person singular) mocked, past participle, past mocking present participle

1. to use ridicule or derision; scoff; jeer (often followed byat ).

noun

1. a contemptuous or derisive imitative action or speech; mockery or derision.

2. something mocked or derided; an object of derision.

3. an imitation; counterfeit; fake.

4. Shipbuilding.

   1. a hard pattern representing the surface of a plate with a warped form, upon which the plate is beaten to shape after furnacing.

   2. Also called mock mold.  bed.

adjective

1. feigned; not real; sham.

   a mock battle.

verb phrase

1. mock up to build a mock-up of.

mock British  

/ mɒk /

verb

1. to behave with scorn or contempt (towards); show ridicule (for)

2. (tr) to imitate, esp in fun; mimic

3. (tr) to deceive, disappoint, or delude

4. (tr) to defy or frustrate

   the team mocked the visitors' attempt to score

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noun

1. the act of mocking

2. a person or thing mocked

3. a counterfeit; imitation

4. informal (often plural) (in England and Wales) the school examinations taken as practice before public examinations

adjective

1. sham or counterfeit

2. serving as an imitation or substitute, esp for practice purposes

   a mock battle

   mock finals

Synonym Usage

See ridicule.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• mocker
  noun
• mocking
  noun
• mockable
  adjective
• unmocked
  adjective
• mockingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• mocking
  present
• mocked
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• mock
  simple
• mocks
  simple
• have mocked
  perfect
• has mocked
  perfect
• am mocking
  progressive
• are mocking
  progressive
• is mocking
  progressive
• have been mocking
  perfect progressive
• has been mocking
  perfect progressive

Past

• mocked
  simple
• had mocked
  perfect
• was mocking
  progressive
• were mocking
  progressive
• had been mocking
  perfect progressive

Future

• will mock
  simple
• will have mocked
  perfect
• will be mocking
  progressive
• will have been mocking
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of mock

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English mokken, from Middle French mocquer

Explanation

Imitation may be the most sincere form of flattery, but to mock is to make fun of or mimic someone with contempt, ridicule or derision. "Louise’s favorite pastime was to mock her brother’s inability to sing on key." The verb mock — as in the use that inspired the name of the mockingbird — can be simple imitation but, more often, to mock someone is to show disdain through mimicry or parody. As an adjective, mock indicates a fake or a simulation: "The design team made the most fabulous mock Eiffel Tower for our staging of An American in Paris." "His mock gratitude was, at times, unbearable."

Example Sentences

NBA mock drafts projected Cameron Carr getting selected somewhere between 15 and 20 in the first round on Tuesday night.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 27, 2026

Italy's foreign minister on Friday cancelled a visit to the United States over reported comments by US President Donald Trump that appeared to mock Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

From Barron's • Jun. 19, 2026

Both programmes show single people agreeing to "marry" total strangers after meeting for the first time at their mock weddings.

From BBC • Jun. 13, 2026

Grunewald advises that all job seekers try this mock negotiation, and said he has seen a major uptick in people trying this type of role-playing with AI.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 2, 2026

I want to mock him, to show up his weakness without revealing mine, but I don’t trust my face not to show too much.

From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black

Related Words

• deride
• insult
• parody
• scoff
• scorn
• taunt
• tease