1
: the act or process of sucking
2
a
: the act or process of exerting a force upon a solid, liquid, or gaseous body by reason of reduced air pressure over part of its surface
b
: force so exerted
3
: a device (such as a pipe or fitting) used in a machine that operates by suction
suctioned; suctioning; suctions
: to remove (as from a body cavity or passage) by suction
Examples of suction in a Sentence
Noun
The vacuum cleaner picks up dirt by suction.
The octopus grasps things using suction.
a vacuum cleaner with enough suction to pick up the heaviest particles of dirt
Verb
The surgeon will suction blood out of the area.
Recent Examples on the Web
Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
The vacuum component has a powerful suction that sucks up dry debris like bits of food, fur, and dirt and then locks it away in an integrated chamber that keeps the dry debris away from the mopping functions.
—Shea Simmons, People.com, 12 Jan. 2025
Jolene Edgar, Allure, 20 Nov. 2024
The inflation and deflation of the balloon acts as a suctioning force to help draw blood flow out from the heart during its contraction phase.
—Christopher Lee, Verywell Health, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for suction 
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Noun
The doctors successfully removed the dead tick using suction and forceps, and gave the woman a course of antibiotics to treat any possible infection, along with steroids and anti-inflammatory drugs to calm the inflammation.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
The vacuum component has a powerful suction that sucks up dry debris like bits of food, fur, and dirt and then locks it away in an integrated chamber that keeps the dry debris away from the mopping functions.
—Shea Simmons, People.com, 12 Jan. 2025
Verb
While some surgeons routinely suction the jowls when contouring the jawline, others avoid them, staying below the jawbone and giving a wide berth to the delicate nerve.
—Jolene Edgar, Allure, 20 Nov. 2024
The inflation and deflation of the balloon acts as a suctioning force to help draw blood flow out from the heart during its contraction phase.
—Christopher Lee, Verywell Health, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for suction
Dictionary Entries Near suction
Cite this Entry
“Suction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suction. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
suction
1 of 2 noun
suc·tion
ˈsək-shən 
1
: the act or process of sucking
2
a
: the act or process of exerting a force upon a solid, liquid, or gaseous body by reason of reduced air pressure over part of its surface
b
: force so exerted
3
: the act or process of removing secretions or fluids from hollow or tubular organs or cavities by means of a tube and a device (as a suction pump) that operates on negative pressure
suction
2 of 2 transitive verb
: to remove from a body cavity or passage by suction
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