plural socks
1
archaic
: a low shoe or slipper
2
also plural sox
ˈsäks 
: a knitted or woven covering for the foot usually worn under shoes and extending above the ankle and sometimes to the knee
: a knitted or woven covering for the foot usually worn under shoes and extending above the ankle and sometimes to the knee
3
a
: a shoe worn by actors in Greek and Roman comedy
b
: comic drama
socked; socking; socks
: to hit, strike, or apply forcefully
sock a home run
an area socked by a blizzard
: to deliver a blow : hit
: a vigorous or violent blow
also
: punch entry 3 sense 3
Phrases
sock it to
slang
: to subject to or as if to a vigorous assault
they may let you off the first time … but the second time they'll sock it to you—
James Jones
James JonesExamples of sock in a Sentence
Noun (1)
black socks to go with black pants and shoes
Verb
kept socking the punching bag until he was exhausted
Noun (2)
a wiseacre who deserves a good sock in the face
Recent Examples on the Web
N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2025
Here are the team’s picks for the best running shoes, massage guns, fitness trackers, workout socks and more.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 26 Mar. 2025
Sara Netzley, EW.com, 25 Mar. 2025
Trump already has socked some imports with tariffs, including a 25% levy on steel and aluminum; 20% on shipments from China; and up to 25% on goods from Canada and Mexico that aren’t covered by a 2020 trade deal among the U.S. and those nations.
—Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sock
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Noun
Two handwritten notes were concealed in socks delivered to Luigi Mangione, accused of killing United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2025
Here are the team’s picks for the best running shoes, massage guns, fitness trackers, workout socks and more.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 26 Mar. 2025
Verb
But Sawyer shoots a little wink at Torres, who takes the hint and socks him in the jaw.
—Sara Netzley, EW.com, 25 Mar. 2025
Trump already has socked some imports with tariffs, including a 25% levy on steel and aluminum; 20% on shipments from China; and up to 25% on goods from Canada and Mexico that aren’t covered by a 2020 trade deal among the U.S. and those nations.
—Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sock
Cite this Entry
“Sock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sock. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sock
2 of 3 verb
: to hit, strike, or apply forcefully : deliver a blow
sock
3 of 3 noun
: a violent blow : punch
Etymology
Noun
Old English socc "a low shoe or slipper," from Latin soccus (same meaning)
Verb
origin unknown
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