verb
sulk
suhlk
Sulk (verb) means to show displeasure by going quiet and withdrawn rather than speaking about it. Example: “He sulked in his room after losing the argument.”
verb
1
To show displeasure by going quiet and withdrawn rather than speaking about it.
"He sulked in his room after losing the argument."
"Don't sulk just because you didn't get your way."
noun
1
A mood or spell of sulking.
"She's in one of her sulks again."
How to use sulk
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo go silent and moody when upset instead of talking it out.
Common pairings
go into a sulk
sulk about something
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Word forms
- Plural
- sulks
- Third person singular
- sulks
- Past tense
- sulked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He _____ in his room after losing the argument.
Etymology
Believed to be a back-formation from sulky, ultimately traced to an Old English word meaning slothful or languid.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for sulk
See all rhymes for sulk →Frequently asked questions
What does “sulk” mean?
The word “sulk” means to show displeasure by going quiet and withdrawn rather than speaking about it. In plain terms, to go silent and moody when upset instead of talking it out.
How do you pronounce “sulk”?
“Sulk” is pronounced suhlk (/sʌlk/ in IPA).
How do you use “sulk” in a sentence?
Here is “sulk” used in a sentence: “He sulked in his room after losing the argument.”
What part of speech is “sulk”?
Depending on how it is used, “sulk” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “sulk” come from?
The word “sulk” comes from Old English. Believed to be a back-formation from sulky, ultimately traced to an Old English word meaning slothful or languid.
How many meanings does “sulk” have?
“Sulk” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to show displeasure by going quiet and withdrawn rather than speaking about it.
