verb
Uncommon
sup
suhp
Sup (verb) means to eat an evening meal, or to drink something in small sips. Example: “They supped on soup and bread by the fire.”
verb
1
To eat an evening meal, or to drink something in small sips.
"They supped on soup and bread by the fire."
intj
1
A casual greeting short for "what's up?"
"Sup, man? Long time no see."
How to use sup
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither an old-fashioned word for having supper/sipping, or a slangy hello.
When to use it
The greeting use is very informal slang, mainly spoken between friends.
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Word forms
- Plural
- sups
- Third person singular
- sups
- Past tense
- supped
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____, man? Long time no see.
Etymology
The eating sense comes from Old English supan, "to sip or drink"; the greeting is a modern clipping of "what's up".
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “sup” mean?
The word “sup” means to eat an evening meal, or to drink something in small sips. In plain terms, either an old-fashioned word for having supper/sipping, or a slangy hello.
How do you pronounce “sup”?
“Sup” is pronounced suhp (/sʌp/ in IPA).
How do you use “sup” in a sentence?
Here is “sup” used in a sentence: “They supped on soup and bread by the fire.”
What part of speech is “sup”?
Depending on how it is used, “sup” can be a verb and an intj.
Where does the word “sup” come from?
The word “sup” comes from Old English. The eating sense comes from Old English supan, "to sip or drink"; the greeting is a modern clipping of "what's up".
Is “sup” a common word?
“Sup” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “sup” have?
“Sup” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to eat an evening meal, or to drink something in small sips.
What is the difference between "sup" as a greeting and "sup" as a verb?
As a casual greeting, "sup" is a shortened, informal way of asking "what's up?" used to say hello. As a verb, "sup" means to eat an evening meal or drink something in small sips, an older and more formal usage.
Is "sup" appropriate in formal writing or speech?
No, both senses of "sup" are informal or dated. The greeting is casual slang used mainly in speech and texting, while the verb meaning to eat or sip is old-fashioned and rarely used in modern formal English.
What is the difference between "sup" and "supper"?
"Sup" as a verb means to eat an evening meal, while "supper" is the noun for that meal itself. "Supper" is far more common today, while "to sup" sounds old-fashioned.
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