suck

1 of 2

verb

ˈsək 

sucked; sucking; sucks

transitive verb

1

a

: to draw (something, such as liquid) into the mouth through a suction force produced by movements of the lips and tongue

sucked milk from his mother's breast

b

: to draw something from or consume by such movements

suck an orange

suck a lollipop

c

: to apply the mouth to in order to or as if to suck out a liquid

sucked his burned finger

2

a

: to draw by or as if by suction

when a receding wave sucks the sand from under your feet

—Kenneth Brower

inadvertently sucked into the … intrigue

—Martin Levin

b

: to take in and consume by or as if by suction

a vacuum cleaner sucking up dirt

suck up a few beers

opponents say that malls suck the life out of downtown areas

—Michael Knight

intransitive verb

1

: to draw something in by or as if by exerting a suction force

especially : to draw milk from a breast or udder with the mouth

2

: to make a sound or motion associated with or caused by suction

his pipe sucked wetly

flanks sucked in and out, the long nose resting on his paws

—Virginia Woolf

3

: to act in an obsequious manner

when they want votes … the candidates come sucking around

—W. G. Hardy

—usually used with up

sucked up to the boss

4

slang, sometimes vulgar : to be objectionable or inadequate

our lifestyle sucks

—Playboy

people who went said it sucked

—H. S. Thompson

suck

2 of 2

noun

1

: a sucking movement or force

2

: the act of sucking

Phrases

suck it up

: to make the effort required to do or deal with something difficult or unpleasant

Synonyms

Verb

• bite [informal + sometimes impolite]
• smell
• stink

Example Sentences

Verb

sucking milk through a straw

a toddler sucking his thumb

She just sucked her teeth and stared.

She sucked on an orange slice.

I sucked a cough drop.

The tide almost sucked us out to sea.

The boat was sucked under the water in the storm.

These plants suck moisture from the soil.

The fan sucks smoke from the air.

a vacuum cleaner that sucks up water as well as dirt

Noun

He took a suck on his pipe.

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Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

That’s the fun thing for me, is there’s no reason the next one couldn’t suck back in and be a chamber piece again. —Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2022

Despite its appearance, the hummingbird’s tongue doesn't suck up nectar like a drinking straw. —National Geographic, 13 Jan. 2023

Pandora won’t entirely suck up the oxygen in theaters. —Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 4 Jan. 2023

Looking to give socks that don’t suck this holiday season? —Outside Online, 23 Nov. 2022

Carolyn Forté, executive director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Home Appliances & Cleaning Products Lab, created a printable checklist to make sure keeping the house neat doesn't suck up endless hours of time on weekends anymore. —Zee Krstic, Good Housekeeping, 22 Nov. 2022

And the downpours keep coming, a couple of them a year now where there used to be none, adding moisture that the pumps cannot suck away. —Vivian Yee, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Nov. 2022

And the downpours keep coming, a couple of them a year now where there used to be none, adding moisture that the pumps cannot suck away. —Vivian Yee, New York Times, 12 Nov. 2022

Ready to kick off spooky season with a vampire series that doesn't suck? —Brendan Morrow, The Week, 30 Sep. 2022

Noun

Here’s the thing: losing sucks. —Ineye Komonibo, refinery29.com, 14 Mar. 2023

Gifts for nerds sort of suck. —Kevin Cortez, Popular Mechanics, 11 Nov. 2022

Format and editing suck. —Andy Meek, BGR, 5 July 2022

And the internet is designed to be used for both high-res immersion and in lower-resolution suck-from-a-straw toe-dipping. —John Koetsier, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2021

The threat didn’t strike me as mortal so much as a colossal time-suck. —Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2021

To be sure, the cryptocurrency is an energy suck, consuming more electricity than the entire annual energy consumption of the Netherlands, according to Cambridge University researchers. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 24 Mar. 2021

Bundle up, embrace the chilly suck! —Paul Douglas, Star Tribune, 17 Sep. 2020

At least one of the gang here asserts that all cars from the 1980s suck. —John Pearley Huffman, Car and Driver, 4 Mar. 2022

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Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English suken, from Old English sūcan; akin to Old High German sūgan to suck, Latin sugere

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing suck

• milk/bleed/suck (someone or something) dry
• suck-up
• suck it and see
• time suck
• suck in
• suck it up

• milk/bleed/suck (someone or something) dry
• suck-up
• suck it and see
• time suck
• suck in
• suck it up

Kids Definition

suck

1 of 2 verb

ˈsək 

1

a

: to draw in liquid and especially mother's milk with the mouth

b

: to draw liquid from by action of the mouth

suck an orange

also : to draw something from or consume by such action

suck a candy

c

: to apply the mouth to in order to or as if to suck out a liquid

sucked my thumb

2

: to take something in or up or remove something from by or as if by suction

plants sucking moisture from the soil

3

: to act in an overly flattering or attentive manner

suck up to the boss

suck

2 of 2 noun

1

: a sucking movement or force

2

: the act of sucking

Medical Definition

suck

transitive verb

ˈsək 

1

: to draw (as liquid) into the mouth through a suction force produced by movements of the lips and tongue

sucked milk from her mother's breast

2

: to draw out by suction

intransitive verb

: to draw something in by or as if by exerting a suction force

especially : to draw milk from a breast or udder with the mouth