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

Example Sentences

Bank trade groups have argued that yield payments could suck out deposits, especially from community banks.

From Barron's • Mar. 3, 2026

Media reports in Singapore described a 19-year-old woman who died after inhaling three pearls while trying to suck through a partially blocked straw.

From Science Daily • Mar. 1, 2026

“Founders and investors have the ability to weaponize a startup’s balance sheet and make these huge investments at huge valuations to try to anoint a winner and suck all the air out of the room.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

“Was just reading today that newborns will suck on a pacifier more vigorously if it triggers playback of a recording of her/his mother’s voice than another woman’s voice,” Tramo wrote to Epstein.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 12, 2026

Anya tried to suck in a breath to speak, to apologize for leaving Ivan to die, to beg his forgiveness.

From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack

Related Words

• absorb
• drink
• inhale