sop

[ sop ]

/ sɒp /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for sop on Thesaurus.com

noun

a piece of solid food, as bread, for dipping in liquid food.

anything thoroughly soaked.

something given to pacify or quiet, or as a bribe: The political boss gave him some cash as a sop.

a weak-willed or spineless person; milksop.

verb (used with object), sopped, sop·ping.

to dip or soak in liquid food: to sop bread in gravy.

to drench.

to take up (liquid) by absorption (usually followed by up): He used bread to sop up the gravy.

verb (used without object), sopped, sop·ping.

to be or become soaking wet.

(of a liquid) to soak (usually followed by in).

OTHER WORDS FOR sop

3 tip, gratuity, payoff.

See synonyms for sop on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of sop

before 1000; (noun) Middle English; Old English sopp; cognate with Old Norse soppa; (v.) Old English soppian, derivative of the noun (not recorded in ME). See sup³

Other definitions for sop (2 of 3)

SOP

or S.O.P.

Standard Operating Procedure; Standing Operating Procedure.

Other definitions for sop (3 of 3)

sop.

abbreviation

soprano.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use sop in a sentence

A sop to lawmakers who represent congressional districts consisting entirely of catfish ponds.
Up to a Point: P.J. O’Rourke on Valentine’s Day and Oral Hygiene|P. J. O’Rourke|February 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The whole thing is a substantive sop to the GOP right wing wrapped in a prettier package.
The New GOP Ploy Is Way More Radical|Michael Tomasky|January 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Cynics, of course, can argue that this is just a sop to Western sensibilities.
Morsi Finally Answers Jeff Goldberg|Raphael Magarik|June 28, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Liberals regard them as a sop to the wealthy, who receive the largest share of the benefits.
In Second Term, What Will Obama Do About Bush Tax Cuts?|Noam Scheiber|March 2, 2012|DAILY BEAST

But so-called populism is in many respects a mere sop to the Thai electorate, regardless of who is peddling it.
Thailand’s Shaky Revolution|Lennox Samuels|July 4, 2011|DAILY BEAST
An allusion to the fable in sop about the earthern and brazen pots being dashed together.
Chaucer's Works, Volume 1 (of 7) -- Romaunt of the Rose; Minor Poems|Geoffrey Chaucer
Yet my guilty anticipation endured, and as a sop to conscience I tried to make myself believe there was no danger.
A Virginia Scout|Hugh Pendexter
I called the Bill timid, narrow, a mere sop to the jealousies of sects and little-minded people.
The New Machiavelli|Herbert George Wells
Without a smile or a prayer, she arranged the sop for the babe, then sat down beside him to think.
Tess of the Storm Country|Grace Miller White
She was preparing the warm sop for the child, and taking him from his mother's arm, she sat down in the rocking chair.
Tess of the Storm Country|Grace Miller White

British Dictionary definitions for sop (1 of 3)

sop

/ (sɒp) /

noun

(often plural) food soaked in a liquid before being eaten

a concession, bribe, etc, given to placate or mollifya sop to one's feelings

informal a stupid or weak person

verb sops, sopping or sopped

(tr) to dip or soak (food) in liquid

(when intr, often foll by in) to soak or be soaked

Word Origin for sop

Old English sopp; related to Old Norse soppa soup, Old High German sopfa milk with bread; see sup ²

British Dictionary definitions for sop (2 of 3)

SOP

abbreviation for

standard operating procedure

British Dictionary definitions for sop (3 of 3)