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

Due to Tom’s disappearance, Claflin is largely absent outside of flashbacks that show the couple’s meet-cute in Jordan, where Alice was digging for artifacts and Tom distributed vaccines for a pro-refugee NGO called SOS Global. —Alison Herman, Variety, 1 Feb. 2026

Sensing something was wrong, Pozas quickly pressed the station’s SOS intercom to alert officials. —Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026

Additional features under development include daily check-in capabilities for elderly users that trigger alerts if someone doesn’t respond, and an SOS feature utilizing Starlink technology to enable emergency signals from anywhere in the world. —Esha Chhabra, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026

While not every product in the brand’s SOS collection includes hypochlorous acid (an excellent anti-acneic ingredient), the serum does. —Kiana Murden, Vogue, 29 Jan. 2026

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