SOS

noun

ˌes-(ˌ)ō-ˈes 

1

: an internationally recognized signal of distress in radio code ‧ ‧ ‧ - - - ‧ ‧ ‧ used especially by ships calling for help

2

: a call or request for help or rescue

Examples of SOS in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet (No. 2), SZA’s SOS (No. 3) and The Weeknd’s The Highlights (No. 5) complete the remainder of the top five. —Thomas Smith, Billboard, 24 Jan. 2025

With the release of SOS, the album’s success spoke for itself, spending 20 weeks at the top of the Billboard 200. —Sughnen Yongo, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025

In an emergency, kids can also access emergency SOS features by pressing the side button five times. —Victoria Song, The Verge, 22 Jan. 2025

Rounding out the Top Five for the week are SZA’s SOS, which is holding steady at Number Three; Kendrick Lamar’s GNX remains at Number Four; and Lil Baby’s WHAM falls from Number One to Number Five in its second week. —Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 19 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1910, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

SOS

noun

ˌes-(ˌ)ō-ˈes 

ˌes-ə-ˈwes

1

: an international radio code distress signal used by ships and aircraft calling for help

2

: a call for help

Medical Definition

SOS

abbreviation

if occasion require; if necessary

—used in writing prescriptions

Etymology

Latin si opus sit