sob

1 of 3

verb

ˈsäb 

sobbed; sobbing

intransitive verb

1

a

: to catch the breath audibly in a spasmodic contraction of the throat

b

: to cry or weep with convulsive catching of the breath

2

: to make a sound like that of a sob or sobbing

transitive verb

1

: to bring to a specified state by sobbing

sobbed himself to sleep

2

: to utter with sobs

sobbed out her grief

sob

2 of 3

noun (1)

1

: an act of sobbing

2

: a sound like that of a sob

SOB

3 of 3

noun (2)

ˌes-ˌō-ˈbē 

plural SOBs or SOB's

slang, sometimes offensive

: son of a bitch

He's one arrogant/tough/greedy SOB.

… a guy who brought two dozen roses to a first coffee date and told you he felt like the luckiest SOB on the planet in the first five minutes.

—Today

Synonyms

Verb

• bawl
• blub [chiefly British]
• blubber
• cry
• weep

Examples of sob in a Sentence

Verb

He began to sob uncontrollably.

She could not stop sobbing.

“I hate you,” she sobbed.

Noun (2)

I hate that miserable SOB.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The show presents an appealing mixed-media collage of 2-D animation, 3-D animation, live film footage, and (in this special, at least) a sobbing puppet elf. —EW.com, 20 Dec. 2024

The images that went viral were often unnerving: high-flash nostalgic party pictures of grinning models with extra molars, or portraits of a sobbing Steve Harvey sloshing liquor in a pitch-black room. —Jacqui Palumbo, CNN, 18 Dec. 2024

Noun

The heaving sobs captured in the sequence were real. —Rachel Syme, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024

During the live portion of the finale, Jenn cried, gasped for breath and contained her sobs while seated on a couch in the middle of a studio audience. —Kimi Robinson, USA TODAY, 6 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English sobben; akin to Middle Low German sabben to drool

Noun (2)

son of a bitch

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1918, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing sob

• sob sister
• sob story

Kids Definition

sob

1 of 2 verb

ˈsäb 

sobbed; sobbing

1

: to weep especially with short gasping sounds

2

: to bring to a specified state by sobbing

sobbed myself to sleep

3

a

: to make a sound like that of sobbing

the wind sobbed through the trees

b

: to utter with sobs

sobbed out their story

sob

2 of 2 noun

1

: an act of sobbing

2

: a sound of or like that of sobbing

Medical Definition

SOB

abbreviation

short of breath