sob

¹

[ sob ]

verb (used without object)

, sobbed, sob·bing.

1. to weep with a convulsive catching of the breath.
2. to make a sound resembling this.

verb (used with object)

, sobbed, sob·bing.

1. to utter with sobs.
2. to put, send, etc., by sobbing or with sobs:

   to sob oneself to sleep.

noun

1. the act of sobbing; a convulsive catching of the breath in weeping.
2. any sound suggesting this.

S.O.B.

²

or SOB

abbreviation for

, (sometimes lowercase)

1. son of a bitch.

s.o.b.

¹

abbreviation for

1. son of a bitch

sob

²

/ sɒb /

verb

1. intr to weep with convulsive gasps
2. tr to utter with sobs
3. to cause (oneself) to be in a specified state by sobbing

   to sob oneself to sleep

noun

1. a convulsive gasp made in weeping

Derived Forms

• ˈsobbing, nounadjective
• ˈsobber, noun

Other Words From

• sobber noun
• sobbing·ly adverb
• sobful adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sob¹

1150–1200; Middle English sobben, apparently imitative

Word History and Origins

Origin of sob¹

C12: probably from Low German; compare Dutch sabben to suck

Example Sentences

There are scenes where I’m sobbing and a scene with a bar fight — I’ve never been in a bar fight in real life, let alone on-screen.

From Los Angeles Times

At this stage, Ms Batool, who had been sobbing loudly, left the court and the hearing was suspended.

From BBC

Ms Dowdall and Ms Matthews sobbed and hugged in the dock after the jury returned its verdicts after six hours and 20 minutes of deliberations.

From BBC

And in one particularly disturbing scene, Oliver gets intoxicated, begins repeatedly hitting himself in the face and rushes toward the balcony sobbing.

From Los Angeles Times

"But he told me when he saw Wojtek at the zoo he sobbed like a baby".

From BBC

Related Words

• bawl
• break down
• howl
• wail
• weep
• whimper