1
: the act or process of sucking
2
a
: the act or process of exerting a force upon a solid, liquid, or gaseous body by reason of reduced air pressure over part of its surface
b
: force so exerted
3
: a device (such as a pipe or fitting) used in a machine that operates by suction
suctioned; suctioning; suctions
: to remove (as from a body cavity or passage) by suction
Examples of suction in a Sentence
Noun
The vacuum cleaner picks up dirt by suction.
The octopus grasps things using suction.
a vacuum cleaner with enough suction to pick up the heaviest particles of dirt
Verb
The surgeon will suction blood out of the area.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ramon Padilla, USA TODAY, 30 Mar. 2024
Users love how the particularly wide suction opening fits clits of all shapes and sizes without sacrificing suction power.
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 31 Mar. 2024
The top lid doubles as a storage covering to keep snacks fresh, and a suction base secures the cup on surfaces.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 29 Mar. 2024
The co-workers were unable to get Medina out of the tank because he was tangled in the suction tube.
—Brian Brant, Peoplemag, 28 Mar. 2024
Depending on which internet source one derives instructions from, the tongue may be held in place by either suction, achieved by swallowing to generate a partial vacuum, or by pure muscle power.
—Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 22 Mar. 2024
This drug-free nasal suction device works quickly to soothe nasal passages by sucking out mucus, allergens and germs.
—Nora Colomer, Fox News, 18 Mar. 2024
The rapid loss of cabin pressure caused oxygen masks to drop from the ceiling, and suction as air rushed from the hole exerted force on people inside the plane.
—David Koenig, Quartz, 22 Mar. 2024
The vacuum’s cordless design and strong suction make quick work of maintaining clean carpets and hard floors.
—Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 22 Mar. 2024
Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024
For cleaning carpets, the machine is used with a powdered cleaner that’s sprinkled on, worked into the fibers, then suctioned up.
—Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2024
Vacuum features technology that traps dust and allergens while suctioning.
—Rachel Trujillo, Peoplemag, 9 Nov. 2023
Doctors in April used a tube to suction out the spider and exoskeleton, according to a case report published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine.
—Aria Bendix, NBC News, 25 Oct. 2023
Wellness can look like a skincare treatment, hot cups suctioning out impurities, but this go-round, self-care looked like an invigorating submersion into a negative 170 degree cryotherapy chamber to improve overall health.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 29 Nov. 2023
The holder comes in several different colors and is designed to suction to your shower wall for stability.
—Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 1 Dec. 2023
Both models come with an LCD screen to display how many particles have been suctioned up, and a button to toggle between different modes, including auto, eco, and a boost mode for highest suction performance.
—Chuong Nguyen, Ars Technica, 23 Nov. 2023
Both Maker and Krueger also recommend investing in a portable spot cleaner, which will flush the stain with soap and water, rinse it and suction the area dry.
—Jandra Sutton, Washington Post, 1 Nov. 2023
Noun
As the deep hull displaces water in a narrow ship channel, powerful suction forces can redirect it from below.
—Ramon Padilla, USA TODAY, 30 Mar. 2024
Users love how the particularly wide suction opening fits clits of all shapes and sizes without sacrificing suction power.
—Annie Blackman, Allure, 31 Mar. 2024
The top lid doubles as a storage covering to keep snacks fresh, and a suction base secures the cup on surfaces.
—Maya Polton, Parents, 29 Mar. 2024
The co-workers were unable to get Medina out of the tank because he was tangled in the suction tube.
—Brian Brant, Peoplemag, 28 Mar. 2024
Depending on which internet source one derives instructions from, the tongue may be held in place by either suction, achieved by swallowing to generate a partial vacuum, or by pure muscle power.
—Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 22 Mar. 2024
This drug-free nasal suction device works quickly to soothe nasal passages by sucking out mucus, allergens and germs.
—Nora Colomer, Fox News, 18 Mar. 2024
The rapid loss of cabin pressure caused oxygen masks to drop from the ceiling, and suction as air rushed from the hole exerted force on people inside the plane.
—David Koenig, Quartz, 22 Mar. 2024
The vacuum’s cordless design and strong suction make quick work of maintaining clean carpets and hard floors.
—Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 22 Mar. 2024
Verb
Sea cucumbers use these feet-like projections to suction onto surfaces and move around, according to the University of Hawai‘i.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 28 Mar. 2024
For cleaning carpets, the machine is used with a powdered cleaner that’s sprinkled on, worked into the fibers, then suctioned up.
—Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2024
Vacuum features technology that traps dust and allergens while suctioning.
—Rachel Trujillo, Peoplemag, 9 Nov. 2023
Doctors in April used a tube to suction out the spider and exoskeleton, according to a case report published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine.
—Aria Bendix, NBC News, 25 Oct. 2023
Wellness can look like a skincare treatment, hot cups suctioning out impurities, but this go-round, self-care looked like an invigorating submersion into a negative 170 degree cryotherapy chamber to improve overall health.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 29 Nov. 2023
The holder comes in several different colors and is designed to suction to your shower wall for stability.
—Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 1 Dec. 2023
Both models come with an LCD screen to display how many particles have been suctioned up, and a button to toggle between different modes, including auto, eco, and a boost mode for highest suction performance.
—Chuong Nguyen, Ars Technica, 23 Nov. 2023
Both Maker and Krueger also recommend investing in a portable spot cleaner, which will flush the stain with soap and water, rinse it and suction the area dry.
—Jandra Sutton, Washington Post, 1 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'suction.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near suction
Cite this Entry
“Suction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suction. Accessed 25 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
suction
1 of 2 noun
suc·tion
ˈsək-shən 
1
: the act or process of sucking
2
a
: the act or process of exerting a force upon a solid, liquid, or gaseous body by reason of reduced air pressure over part of its surface
b
: force so exerted
3
: the act or process of removing secretions or fluids from hollow or tubular organs or cavities by means of a tube and a device (as a suction pump) that operates on negative pressure
suction
2 of 2 transitive verb
: to remove from a body cavity or passage by suction
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