plural socks
1
archaic
: a low shoe or slipper
2
also plural sox
ˈsäks 
: a knitted or woven covering for the foot usually worn under shoes and extending above the ankle and sometimes to the knee
: a knitted or woven covering for the foot usually worn under shoes and extending above the ankle and sometimes to the knee
3
a
: a shoe worn by actors in Greek and Roman comedy
b
: comic drama
socked; socking; socks
: to hit, strike, or apply forcefully
sock a home run
an area socked by a blizzard
: to deliver a blow : hit
: a vigorous or violent blow
also
: punch entry 3 sense 3
Phrases
sock it to
slang
: to subject to or as if to a vigorous assault
they may let you off the first time … but the second time they'll sock it to you—
James Jones
James JonesExamples of sock in a Sentence
Noun (1)
black socks to go with black pants and shoes
Verb
kept socking the punching bag until he was exhausted
Noun (2)
a wiseacre who deserves a good sock in the face
Recent Examples on the Web
Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2025
He is now listed at 7-foot-4 in socks.
—Jared Weiss, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Zack Meisel, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
The incentive to sock money inside retirement accounts instead of, say, a plain vanilla brokerage account is generally tied to tax breaks.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sock
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Noun
The Sims franchise is a staple in the cozy game universe, but this fall Perez is cozy-maxing with comfy socks, warm blankets, and her new puppy.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 2 Oct. 2025
He is now listed at 7-foot-4 in socks.
—Jared Weiss, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Verb
This is a guy who swiped 32 bases a year ago and socked 28 homers two years ago.
—Zack Meisel, New York Times, 13 Sep. 2025
The incentive to sock money inside retirement accounts instead of, say, a plain vanilla brokerage account is generally tied to tax breaks.
—Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sock
Cite this Entry
“Sock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sock. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sock
2 of 3 verb
: to hit, strike, or apply forcefully : deliver a blow
sock
3 of 3 noun
: a violent blow : punch
Etymology
Noun
Old English socc "a low shoe or slipper," from Latin soccus (same meaning)
Verb
origin unknown
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