suction
Americannoun
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the act, process, or condition of sucking.
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the force that, by a pressure differential, attracts a substance or object to the region of lower pressure.
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the act or process of producing such a force.
verb (used with object)
noun
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the act or process of sucking
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the force or condition produced by a pressure difference, as the force holding a suction cap onto a surface
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the act or process of producing such a force or condition
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A force acting on a fluid caused by difference in pressure between two regions, tending to make the fluid flow from the region of higher pressure to the region of lower pressure.
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The act of reducing pressure to create such a force, as by the use of a pump or fan.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of suction
1605–15; < Late Latin sūctiōn- (stem of sūctiō ) a sucking, equivalent to Latin sūct ( us ) (past participle of sūgere to suck ) + -iōn- -ion
Explanation
Suction is a force created when there's a difference in air pressure. When you use a straw to drink a milkshake, suction forces the delicious ice cream to move up into your mouth. Suction comes from the same Latin root as suck. Suction happens when a vacuum cleaner sucks up dirt or when someone sucks on a straw. At the dentist, suction is used to get rid of all the extra saliva while they work on your teeth. (Yuck.) Suction can also make things stick to hard surfaces. Some frogs can stick to windows with their little suction cup toes.
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.
She turned a maroon tablecloth into a makeshift curtain, attaching it to the French doors with suction cups.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026
Remember, without the suction and sealing, poop and pee would simply float around the bathroom.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026
It consists of a mask that is placed over a victim’s nose and mouth and a suction device that creates negative pressure to pull out a stuck object.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026
Bell recommends renter-friendly products such as stick-on tiles for the kitchen, suction storage products in the bathroom and expandable blinds that can be fitted without drilling.
From BBC ● Aug. 26, 2026
“Is that a suction cup connecting it to the wall?”
From "A Boy Called Bat" by Elana K. Arnold
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
