sup

1 of 5

verb (1)

ˈsəp 

supped; supping

transitive verb

: to take or drink in swallows or gulps

intransitive verb

chiefly dialectal : to take food and especially liquid food into the mouth a little at a time

sup

2 of 5

noun

: a mouthful especially of liquor or broth : sip

also : a small quantity of liquid

pour me just a sup of tea

sup

3 of 5

verb (2)

supped; supping

intransitive verb

1

: to eat the evening meal

2

: to make one's supper

—used with on or off

sup on roast beef

sup

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abbreviation

1

superior

2

supra

sup

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interjection

variants or less commonly 'sup

US

—used as an informal greeting equivalent to "What's up?"

[Target Bakehouse and Café] Owner and baker Savancham Nap said the secret to their success lies in the relaxed manner the bakery treats its regular customers … "When those customers come. I don't say 'hello' I say 'sup man,' we talk to them like a friend, that's what people like about us."

—James Baker

"We always had to drive to Compton first to pick up our suit and do our makeup in this warehouse, and then go get gas, like at the nearest gas station, dressed fully as Sunny the Clown," [Alison] Brie recalls. "People were cool about it. They were just like, 'Sup girl?' And I was like, 'Sup?'"

—Becky Sullivan

Synonyms

Verb (1)

• belt (down)
• drink
• gulp
• guzzle
• hoist
• imbibe
• knock back
• pound (down)
• quaff
• sip
• slug (down)
• slurp
• swig
• swill
• toss (down or off)

Noun

• belt
• draft
• drag
• drink
• gulp
• nip
• quaff
• shot
• sip
• slug
• snort
• swallow
• swig
• swill

Example Sentences

Noun

the old mariner took a sup of grog and began his tale

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English suppen, from Old English sūpan, suppan; akin to Old High German sūfan to drink, sip, Old English sopp sop

Verb (2)

Middle English soupen, suppen, from Anglo-French super, from supe sop, soup — more at soup

First Known Use

Verb (1)

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

Noun

1551, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Interjection

circa 1981, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

sup

1 of 3 verb

ˈsəp 

supped; supping

: to eat dinner : dine

sup

2 of 3 noun

: a mouthful especially of liquid : sip

sup

3 of 3 verb

supped; supping

1

: to eat the evening meal

2

: to make one's supper

—used with on or off

supped on roast beef