noun

sumo

SOO-moh

Sumo (noun) means a Japanese style of wrestling in which two large wrestlers try to force each other out of a ring or make them touch the ground. Example: “Sumo tournaments in Tokyo draw huge crowds every year.”

noun

A Japanese style of wrestling in which two large wrestlers try to force each other out of a ring or make them touch the ground.

"Sumo tournaments in Tokyo draw huge crowds every year."

"He's been training in sumo since he was a teenager."

How to use sumo

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe traditional Japanese wrestling sport with its famously large athletes.

Common pairings

sumo wrestler sumo tournament

Word forms

sumo plural, sumos plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “sumo” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____ tournaments in Tokyo draw huge crowds every year.

Etymology

Borrowed directly from Japanese sumō.

Origin: Japanese

Rhymes for sumo

Izumo

See all rhymes for sumo →

Frequently asked questions

What does “sumo” mean?

The word “sumo” means a Japanese style of wrestling in which two large wrestlers try to force each other out of a ring or make them touch the ground. In plain terms, the traditional Japanese wrestling sport with its famously large athletes.

How do you pronounce “sumo”?

“Sumo” is pronounced SOO-moh (/ˈsuːməʊ/ in IPA).

How do you use “sumo” in a sentence?

Here is “sumo” used in a sentence: “Sumo tournaments in Tokyo draw huge crowds every year.”

What part of speech is “sumo”?

“Sumo” is a noun.

Where does the word “sumo” come from?

The word “sumo” comes from Japanese. Borrowed directly from Japanese sumō.

Featured in

Vocabulary lists that include sumo:

Words with Japanese origins