suck
suhk
Suck (verb) means to draw liquid or air into the mouth using the lips and tongue. Example: “The baby began to suck hungrily at the bottle.”
verb
1
To draw liquid or air into the mouth using the lips and tongue.
"The baby began to suck hungrily at the bottle."
"He used a straw to suck the last of the juice from the glass."
"Don't suck too hard on the pipe, or the water will splash."
2
To draw something in a particular direction, as if by suction.
"The vacuum cleaner sucked up all the crumbs."
"The strong current can suck swimmers away from the beach."
"The pump will suck the water out of the flooded cellar."
3
To be very bad or unpleasant.
"This weather really sucks."
"I think this song really sucks, so I'm turning it off."
"Missing the last train on a rainy night sucks."
How to use suck
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo pull in liquid or air with the mouth, or (informally) to be really bad.
When to use it
The "to be bad" sense is very informal — avoid it in formal writing.
Common pairings
suck up
suck in
suck on
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Word forms
- Plural
- sucks
- Third person singular
- sucks
- Past tense
- sucked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The baby began to _____ hungrily at the bottle.
Etymology
From Old English sucan, from Proto-Germanic sukana, ultimately imitative of the sucking sound.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for suck
See all rhymes for suck →Frequently asked questions
What does “suck” mean?
The word “suck” means to draw liquid or air into the mouth using the lips and tongue. In plain terms, to pull in liquid or air with the mouth, or (informally) to be really bad.
How do you pronounce “suck”?
“Suck” is pronounced suhk (/sʌk/ in IPA).
How do you use “suck” in a sentence?
Here is “suck” used in a sentence: “The baby began to suck hungrily at the bottle.”
What part of speech is “suck”?
“Suck” is a verb.
Where does the word “suck” come from?
The word “suck” comes from Old English. From Old English sucan, from Proto-Germanic sukana, ultimately imitative of the sucking sound.
Is “suck” a common word?
“Suck” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “suck” have?
“Suck” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to draw liquid or air into the mouth using the lips and tongue.
What is the difference between suck and sip?
Sucking draws liquid or air inward using suction from the lips and tongue, as through a straw. Sipping means drinking a small amount slowly, usually straight from a cup or glass without strong suction. You suck a drink up through a straw, but you sip it from the rim of a mug.
What is the difference between suck and blow?
They are opposites in direction. Sucking pulls air or liquid inward, toward or into the mouth, using suction. Blowing pushes air outward from the mouth instead. A straw sucks a drink upward, while blowing out birthday candles pushes air the other way. One draws in; the other forces out.
What is an example of suck in a sentence?
"The baby sucked milk from the bottle" captures the core meaning — drawing liquid into the mouth. Other everyday examples include sucking a drink through a straw, sucking on a boiled sweet, or a pump sucking water up a pipe. The word centres on the pulling, suction-based action.
Does suck have other meanings?
Yes. Beyond drawing in liquid or air, "suck" is used informally to mean something is bad or disappointing, as in "this weather sucks." It can also describe something pulling inward strongly, like a whirlpool sucking objects down. The literal sense — drawing in through the mouth — remains the original meaning.
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