1
: the act or process of sucking
2
a
: the act or process of exerting a force upon a solid, liquid, or gaseous body by reason of reduced air pressure over part of its surface
b
: force so exerted
3
: a device (such as a pipe or fitting) used in a machine that operates by suction
suctioned; suctioning; suctions
: to remove (as from a body cavity or passage) by suction
Examples of suction in a Sentence
Noun
The vacuum cleaner picks up dirt by suction.
The octopus grasps things using suction.
a vacuum cleaner with enough suction to pick up the heaviest particles of dirt
Verb
The surgeon will suction blood out of the area.
Recent Examples on the Web
Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 21 Dec. 2025
Ross explains that sucking doesn’t create enough suction to remove venom and instead increases blood flow to the area, which can cause the venom to spread.
—Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 20 Dec. 2025
Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 19 Dec. 2025
In the West, a new technique which employed ultrasonic waves to break down the cloudy lens, allowing the debris to be suctioned out through a small incision was being developed and perfected.
—Pasquale Hinrichs, CNN Money, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for suction
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Noun
The handheld vacuum comes equipped with dual suction modes, which can reach a maximum speed that rivals upright models.
—Toni Sutton, PEOPLE, 21 Dec. 2025
Ross explains that sucking doesn’t create enough suction to remove venom and instead increases blood flow to the area, which can cause the venom to spread.
—Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 20 Dec. 2025
Verb
Use your vacuum to suction it away every week.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 19 Dec. 2025
In the West, a new technique which employed ultrasonic waves to break down the cloudy lens, allowing the debris to be suctioned out through a small incision was being developed and perfected.
—Pasquale Hinrichs, CNN Money, 15 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for suction
Cite this Entry
“Suction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suction. Accessed 27 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
suction
1 of 2 noun
suc·tion
ˈsək-shən 
1
: the act or process of sucking
2
a
: the act or process of exerting a force upon a solid, liquid, or gaseous body by reason of reduced air pressure over part of its surface
b
: force so exerted
3
: the act or process of removing secretions or fluids from hollow or tubular organs or cavities by means of a tube and a device (as a suction pump) that operates on negative pressure
suction
2 of 2 transitive verb
: to remove from a body cavity or passage by suction
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