sock

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈsäk 

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

3

a

: a shoe worn by actors in Greek and Roman comedy

b

: comic drama

sockless

ˈsä-kləs 

adjective

sock

2 of 3

verb

socked; socking; socks

transitive verb

: to hit, strike, or apply forcefully

sock a home run

an area socked by a blizzard

intransitive verb

: to deliver a blow : hit

sock

3 of 3

noun (2)

: 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

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• hose
• stocking

Verb

• bang
• bash
• bat
• belt
• biff
• bludgeon
• bob
• bonk
• bop
• box
• bust
• clap
• clip
• clobber
• clock
• clout
• crack
• hammer
• hit
• knock
• nail
• paste
• pound
• punch
• rap
• slam
• slap
• slog
• slug
• smack
• smite
• strike
• swat
• swipe
• tag
• thump
• thwack
• wallop
• whack
• whale
• zap

Noun (2)

• bang
• bash
• bat
• beat
• belt
• biff
• blow
• bop
• box
• buffet
• bust
• chop
• clap
• clip
• clout
• crack
• cuff
• dab
• douse [British]
• fillip
• hack
• haymaker
• hit
• hook
• knock
• larrup [dialect]
• lash
• lick
• pelt
• pick
• plump
• poke
• pound
• punch
• rap
• slam
• slap
• slug
• smack
• smash
• spank
• stinger
• stripe
• stroke
• swat
• swipe
• switch
• thud
• thump
• thwack
• wallop
• welt
• whack
• wham
• whop
• whap

Examples 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

Noun

There are similarities between Clarke and Watson in gait, dribbling style and appearance (socks rolled down, shirt untucked). —Andy Naylor, New York Times, 13 May 2025

Ventura is seen on the video retrieving socks from the larger bag. —Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 12 May 2025

Verb

Better yet, Williams and his board managed it all without socking owners with big assessments, even as construction costs soared and insurance rates for condos in South Florida doubled and even tripled. —Andres Viglucci, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2025

But Trump moved more swiftly than expected in socking some imports with tariffs, including a 25% levy on steel and aluminum; 20% on all shipments from China; and up to 25% on goods from Canada and Mexico that aren’t covered by a 2020 trade deal among the U.S. and those nations. —Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English socke, from Old English socc, from Latin soccus

Verb

origin unknown

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

circa 1700, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun (2)

circa 1700, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing sock

• ankle sock
• crew sock
• knee sock
• put a sock in it
• sock away
• sock hop
• sock in
• sock it to
• sock puppet
• tube sock
• wind sock

Rhymes for sock

• balk
• baulk
• bloc
• bock
• broch
• brock
• calk
• caulk
• chalk
• chock
• clock
• cock

Kids Definition

sock

1 of 3 noun

ˈsäk 

plural socks also sox ˈsäks 

: a knitted or woven covering for the foot usually extending above the ankle and sometimes to the knee

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