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
Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025
And the old standby—socks—are sought by 33 percent.
—Catherine Salfino, Sourcing Journal, 31 Oct. 2025
Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2025
The 170-grain slug socked him right between the horns.
—Bob Cary, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sock
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Noun
Lee made a video about the clear-shoe trend, adopted by the likes of Simone Rocha and Loewe for spring 2026; Loewe layered socks of different colors with transparent kitten heels.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 31 Oct. 2025
And the old standby—socks—are sought by 33 percent.
—Catherine Salfino, Sourcing Journal, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
Ten years after his expulsion, Saleh’s third feature in the trilogy, after Boy From Heaven, socks it to Egypt’s military leaders and General Intelligence Service (GIS), and by implication al-Sisi.
—Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 17 Oct. 2025
The 170-grain slug socked him right between the horns.
—Bob Cary, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 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 3 Nov. 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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