suck

American  

[suhk] / sʌk /

verb (used with object)

1. to draw into the mouth by producing a partial vacuum by action of the lips and tongue.

   to suck lemonade through a straw.

2. to draw (water, moisture, air, etc.) by or as if by suction.

   Plants suck moisture from the earth. The pump sucked water from the basement.

3. to apply the lips or mouth to and draw upon by producing a partial vacuum, especially for extracting fluid contents.

   to suck an orange.

4. to put into the mouth and draw upon.

   to suck one's thumb.

5. to take into the mouth and dissolve by the action of the tongue, saliva, etc..

   to suck a piece of candy.

6. to render or bring to a specified condition by or as if by sucking.

7. Slang: Vulgar. to perform fellatio on (sometimes followed byoff ).

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verb (used without object)

1. to draw something in by producing a partial vacuum in the mouth, especially to draw milk from the breast.

2. to draw or be drawn by or as if by suction.

3. (of a pump) to draw air instead of water, as when the water is low or a valve is defective.

4. Slang. to be repellent or unpleasant.

   Poverty sucks.

5. Slang. to be inferior, as in quality or execution; be poor.

   Everyone says the show sucks. She sucks at tennis.

6. Slang. to behave in a fawning manner (usually followed byaround ).

noun

1. an act or instance of sucking.

2. a sucking force.

3. the sound produced by sucking.

4. that which is sucked; nourishment drawn from the breast.

5. a small drink; sip.

6. a whirlpool.

verb phrase

1. suck in to deceive; cheat; defraud.

   The confidence man sucked us all in.

2. suck up to be obsequious; toady.

   The workers are all sucking up to him because he's the one who decides who'll get the bonuses.

idioms

1. suck face, to engage in soul-kissing.

suck British  

/ sʌk /

verb

1. to draw (a liquid or other substance) into the mouth by creating a partial vacuum in the mouth

2. to draw in (fluid, etc) by or as if by a similar action

   plants suck moisture from the soil

3. to drink milk from (a mother's breast); suckle

4. (tr) to extract fluid content from (a solid food)

   to suck a lemon

5. (tr) to take into the mouth and moisten, dissolve, or roll around with the tongue

   to suck one's thumb

6. (tr; often foll by down, in, etc) to draw by using irresistible force

   the whirlpool sucked him down

7. (intr) (of a pump) to draw in air because of a low supply level or leaking valves, pipes, etc

8. (tr) to assimilate or acquire (knowledge, comfort, etc)

9. slang (intr) to be contemptible or disgusting

10. informal doing very well; successful

11. informal to try something to find out what it is, what it is like, or how it works

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noun

1. the act or an instance of sucking

2. something that is sucked, esp milk from the mother's breast

3. to give (a baby or young animal) milk from the breast or udder

4. an attracting or sucking force

   the suck of the whirlpool was very strong

5. a sound caused by sucking

Other Word Forms

• outsuck
  verb (used with object)
• suckless
  adjective
• unsucked
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of suck

First recorded before 900; (verb) Middle English souken, Old English sūcan, cognate with Latin sūgere; (noun) Middle English souke “act of suckling,” derivative of the noun; akin to soak

Explanation

To suck is to draw something by force. Vacuum cleaners suck dirt from the floor and milkshake drinkers suck this liquid, tasty liquid through a straw. Drinking something by pulling it into your mouth is to suck it. You can also suck on something, like a peppermint or a thumb, by holding it in your mouth. Objects can suck too — a fan sucks warm air out the window. You can also suck someone into your plans, meaning you force them to participate. The word suck comes from the Proto-Indo-European sug, from the sound your mouth makes when you suck on something.

Example Sentences

But a well-worked wrap-around move off first-phase ball, levered open a corridor of space for Breach to streak away to score and suck the life out the stadium.

From BBC • May 17, 2026

But SpaceX could also suck up attention and money that might have otherwise gone to smaller space stocks, he said.

From MarketWatch • May 15, 2026

“They’ve got to go through some experiences and some suck and learn who they are to become who they can be.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 25, 2026

In the Slate Plus episode: Do men suck at grocery shopping?

From Slate • Apr. 11, 2026

Stories about a book that was like a vacuum, used to suck the language right out of your lungs.

From "The Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline

Related Words

• absorb
• drink
• inhale