SOS

noun

ˌes-(ˌ)ō-ˈes 

1

: an internationally recognized signal of distress in radio code ‧ ‧ ‧ - - - ‧ ‧ ‧ used especially by ships calling for help

2

: a call or request for help or rescue

Examples of SOS in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In video footage released by Reuters, the men—clad in red and orange jumpsuits—wave to the drone and one flashes a peace sign before taking up the SOS formation. —Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025

All versions of the album, old and new, are combined for tracking and charting under the title SOS. —Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 27 Apr. 2025

Well In the latest tracking frame, SOS moved an impressive 52,600 equivalent units in the U.S., according to Luminate. —Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 26 Apr. 2025

On Easter Sunday, an Italian helicopter pilot named Simone Moro received word of a SOS call on 26,545-foot Annapurna in Nepal. —Ben Ayers, Outside Online, 24 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1910, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for SOS

• bless
• chess
• cress
• dress
• es
• ess
• esse
• fess
• guess
• jess
• less
• lesse

Kids Definition

SOS

noun

ˌes-(ˌ)ō-ˈes 

ˌes-ə-ˈwes

1

: an international radio code distress signal used by ships and aircraft calling for help

2

: a call for help

Medical Definition

SOS

abbreviation

if occasion require; if necessary

—used in writing prescriptions

Etymology

Latin si opus sit