verb
sop
sop
Sop (verb) means to dip or soak something, especially bread, in a liquid. Example: “He sopped up the last of the gravy with a piece of bread.”
verb
1
To dip or soak something, especially bread, in a liquid.
"He sopped up the last of the gravy with a piece of bread."
noun
1
Something offered to placate or appease someone, often half-heartedly.
"The extra day off was just a sop to keep the staff quiet."
How to use sop
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo soak something in liquid, or a small concession given to calm someone down.
Common pairings
sop up the sauce
a sop to critics
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like sop.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Third person singular
- sops
- Past tense
- sopped
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The extra day off was just a _____ to keep the staff quiet.
Etymology
From Old English sopa, "a piece of bread soaked in liquid" — related to "sup" and a doublet of "soup."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “sop” mean?
The word “sop” means to dip or soak something, especially bread, in a liquid. In plain terms, to soak something in liquid, or a small concession given to calm someone down.
How do you pronounce “sop”?
“Sop” is pronounced sop (/sɑp/ in IPA).
How do you use “sop” in a sentence?
Here is “sop” used in a sentence: “He sopped up the last of the gravy with a piece of bread.”
What part of speech is “sop”?
Depending on how it is used, “sop” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “sop” come from?
The word “sop” comes from Old English. From Old English sopa, "a piece of bread soaked in liquid" — related to "sup" and a doublet of "soup.".
How many meanings does “sop” have?
“Sop” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to dip or soak something, especially bread, in a liquid.
