suds

American  

[suhdz] / sʌdz /

noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. soapy water.

2. foam; lather.

3. Slang. beer.

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verb (used with object)

1. to wash with soap or detergent (often followed byout ).

   to suds out a pair of socks.

suds British  

/ sʌdz /

plural noun

1. the bubbles on the surface of water in which soap, detergents, etc, have been dissolved; lather

2. soapy water

3. slang beer or the bubbles floating on it

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Other Word Forms

• nonsudsing
  adjective
• sudsable
  adjective
• sudsy
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of suds

1540–50; 1900–05 suds for def. 3; perhaps < Middle Dutch sudse puddle, marsh; akin to sodden

Explanation

The frothy soap bubbles you make when you wash your hands are suds. If you put too much detergent in your dishwasher, the kitchen floor could end up covered in suds. Besides suds made from soap (the word is actually short for soapsuds), there are other foamy, frothy substances you can call suds. Sometimes the tide leaves suds on the beach, and you may be fond of sipping suds off the top of your root beer float. Because it's often topped with suds, beer itself is informally known as suds. In the 16th century, suds meant "dregs or muck."

Example Sentences

Foams appear in everyday life as soap suds, shaving cream, whipped toppings and food emulsions like mayonnaise.

From Science Daily • Jan. 15, 2026

“There are so many ways to make the suds stretch further.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 28, 2025

Southgate sits in a bath, lifejacket fastened to his torso amid the suds.

From BBC • Jul. 15, 2024

Sun and suds: Head to the backyard for a bath.

From New York Times • Jun. 9, 2023

He was covered head to toe in suds.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover