sobbed; sobbing
1
a
: to catch the breath audibly in a spasmodic contraction of the throat
b
: to cry or weep with convulsive catching of the breath
2
: to make a sound like that of a sob or sobbing
1
: to bring to a specified state by sobbing
sobbed himself to sleep
2
: to utter with sobs
sobbed out her grief
1
: an act of sobbing
2
: a sound like that of a sob
plural SOBs or SOB's
slang, sometimes offensive
: son of a bitch
He's one arrogant/tough/greedy SOB.
… a guy who brought two dozen roses to a first coffee date and told you he felt like the luckiest SOB on the planet in the first five minutes.—
Today
TodayExamples of sob in a Sentence
Verb
He began to sob uncontrollably.
She could not stop sobbing.
“I hate you,” she sobbed.
Noun (2)
I hate that miserable SOB.
Recent Examples on the Web
Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 21 July 2025
The scene inside — Jota’s parents sobbing, Cardoso stricken by grief — was one of almost unbearable sadness.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 6 July 2025
Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 29 June 2025
In one corner, an elderly woman’s cries pierce the quiet sobs of others.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sob
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Verb
The firm had lost more than two-thirds of its staff; Lutnick sobbed during TV interviews while desperately trying to keep the business from going under.
—Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 21 July 2025
The scene inside — Jota’s parents sobbing, Cardoso stricken by grief — was one of almost unbearable sadness.
—Jack Lang, New York Times, 6 July 2025
Noun
The 😭 might suggest laughter too now, in addition to its sobs.
—Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 29 June 2025
In one corner, an elderly woman’s cries pierce the quiet sobs of others.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for sob
Cite this Entry
“Sob.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sob. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sob
1 of 2 verb
sobbed; sobbing
1
: to weep especially with short gasping sounds
2
: to bring to a specified state by sobbing
sobbed myself to sleep
3
a
: to make a sound like that of sobbing
the wind sobbed through the trees
b
: to utter with sobs
sobbed out their story
sob
2 of 2 noun1
: an act of sobbing
2
: a sound of or like that of sobbing
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