[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/sob/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [S](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/s/) / sob

# sob

verb (sob, sobs, sobbed, sobbing); noun (a sob, sobs); abbreviation (SOB — rude, US)

«sob» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. verb: To cry noisily, with short sharp breaths. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sob/#m1)
2. noun: The sound of loud crying. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sob/#m2)
3. «sob story» (informal): a sad story told to make people feel sorry for you, maybe to get something. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sob/#m3)
4. SOB (rude, US slang): short for a swear insult; not for school. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sob/#m4)

### In the lessons

In stories, sobbing shows deep sadness, fear or relief (more than crying quietly). «Sob your heart out» means cry a lot. «Sob story» shows suspicion that someone is exaggerating. Phrases: «sob loudly», «sob your heart out», «between sobs», «sob story».

### Examples

- The little boy sobbed when he lost his balloon. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sob/#x1)
- She sobbed her heart out when her hamster died. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sob/#x2)
- «I can't find my mum,» he said between sobs. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sob/#x3)
- We heard sobs from the next room. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sob/#x4)
- He told the teacher a sob story about why his homework was late. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sob/#x5)
- The audience sobbed at the sad ending. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sob/#x6)
- ‘O Kay, my little Kay!’ sobbed Gerda. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sob/#x7)

### Note

Past «sobbed», «sobbing» (double b). Similar: cry, weep (formal), wail (loud), whimper (quiet). Capital «SOB» is a rude US abbreviation — avoid.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «sob» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sob/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«sob» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sob.html) on Mova free.