tucker
noun
a person or thing that tucks.
tucker
1 American
[tuhk-er]
/ ˈtʌk ər /
tucker
2
American
[tuhk-er]
/ ˈtʌk ər /
verb (used with object)
Informal.
-
tuckers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
tuckered,
past participle, past
-
tuckering
present participle
Tucker
3
American
[tuhk-er]
/ ˈtʌk ər /
noun
-
Richard, 1915–75, U.S. operatic tenor.
-
Sophie Sophie Abruza, 1884–1966, U.S. singer and entertainer, born in Russia.
tucker
1
British
/ ˈtʌkə /
noun
-
a person or thing that tucks
-
a detachable yoke of lace, linen, etc, often white, worn over the breast, as of a low-cut dress
-
an attachment on a sewing machine used for making tucks at regular intervals
-
old-fashioned an informal word for food
tucker
2
British
/ ˈtʌkə /
verb
tucker
Idioms
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
tuckersimple
-
tuckerssimple
-
have tuckeredperfect
-
has tuckeredperfect
-
am tuckeringprogressive
-
are tuckeringprogressive
-
is tuckeringprogressive
-
have been tuckeringperfect progressive
-
has been tuckeringperfect progressive
Past
-
tuckeredsimple
-
had tuckeredperfect
-
was tuckeringprogressive
-
were tuckeringprogressive
-
had been tuckeringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of tucker1
First recorded in 1225–75, tucker is from the Middle English word tokere. See tuck 1, -er 1
Origin of tucker2
Explanation
As a noun, a tucker is either someone who sews tiny pleats in fabric or an old-fashioned fabric insert in the neck of a dress. As an informal verb, tucker means "exhaust or tire." If you're a tucker, you're a sewer or a stitcher. And if you wear an antique dress, it may have a tucker made of lace or linen that's sewn into its neckline. These days, you're more likely to hear tucker used as a verb. A long day at the zoo may tucker out your four-year-old cousin. Experts believe that this New England slang might stem from tucker, an informal verb used to mean "exhaust a dog."
Vocabulary lists containing tucker
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.
See Examples For:
Pearce also starts the party late, so the dance party before the rave can tucker kids out before he takes the stage.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 3, 2025
"Goannas are significant cultural totems for Traditional Owners across northern Australia, and an important bush tucker food," Dr Ward-Fear says.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 9, 2024
She has experience of bush tucker trials, having appeared on I'm A Celebrity's spin-off show, Extra Camp, where she was made to eat sheep brains.
From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2022
The duchess joked that she thought she was "in trouble" and that they were going to make her do one of their "tucker trials."
From Fox News ● Oct. 19, 2021
“Gods, I’m exhausted. There’s nothing like the certain knowledge of your own death to tucker you out.”
From "The Name of the Wind" by Patrick Rothfuss
The bullpens battled to a scoreless draw, the Dodgers’ last stand falling flat after Tucker and pinch-hitting rookie Josue De Paula drew a pair of two-out walks against Trevor Megill.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026
The modern CFO also is evolving from a reporter of news into a “Chief Performance Officer,” Tucker noted.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026
The next inning, Kyle Tucker hit a two-out single into left, baited Sale into picking over to first base twice, and then stole second.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026
Today’s newsletter was curated and edited by Bharbi Hazarika and Gary Mitchell in collaboration with Editor in Chief Emma Tucker.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 3, 2026
Another Virginian, St. George Tucker, developed an even fuller version of the same scheme six years later.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
In their best bibs and tuckers, Hollywood's finest lined up with Britain's luvvie elite to tussle over, to quote Billy Connolly, "a death mask on a stick".
From The Guardian ● Feb. 14, 2013
Gonzalez Videla's old ambassadorial friend from Vichy, Admiral William D. Leahy, the vice presidents from Argentina, Peru and Brazil all turned up in their best bibs & tuckers.
From Time Magazine Archive
Mrs. Lecks and Mrs. Aleshine put on their best bibs and tuckers, and Mr. Enderton assumed his most clerical air as he stood behind a table in the parlor and married Ruth and me.
From The Casting Away of Mrs. Lecks and Mrs. Aleshine by Frank Richard Stockton
An' then there's the ladies—'specially the very young 'uns, God bless their bibs an' tuckers!
From Peregrine's Progress by Jeffery Farnol
"But that necktie and that gown—and all those frills and tuckers?" continued Jim generalizing, with a rapid twirling of his fingers over her.
From The Heritage of Dedlow Marsh and Other Tales by Bret Harte
Labs are happiest in an active household, but when they’re tuckered out, prepare yourself for a cuddle fest — and to be amazed at how much space one dog can take up in your bed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2025
Other than everybody just getting tuckered out — perpetual conflict can be exhausting — the reality is that Sawant has always been more story than substance.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 21, 2023
Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge On one day of my testing, the regular iPhone 13 made it from 7am to midnight before it tuckered out.
From The Verge ● Sep. 21, 2021
She is exhausting and exhilarating to observe, and she must be truly tuckered out after each performance.
From New York Times ● Jul. 15, 2015
That night Mary Alice went up to bed early, tuckered out.
From "A Long Way from Chicago" by Richard Peck
Presently, however, they slowed down to a "dog trot" at the suggestion of Clifford Long, who warned his fellow Scouts against "tuckering themselves out."
From Campfire Girls in the Allegheny Mountains or, A Christmas Success against Odds by Stella M. Francis
I wuz most melted too, for St. Louis weather is tuckering to them that can't stand heat.
From Samantha at the St. Louis Exposition by Marietta Holley
There, in the half-shade, he saw the horse standing, the sunshine and the tuckering shadow of leaves dancing over his brown body.
From The Prussian Officer by D. H. (David Herbert) Lawrence
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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.
