suction

1 of 2

noun

suc·​tion ˈsək-shən How to pronounce suction (audio)
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
suctional adjective

suction

2 of 2

verb

suctioned; suctioning; suctions

transitive verb

: 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
Noun
Complete with a strong suction, the vacuum can pick up dirt, debris, and more from a number of surfaces, including rugs and hardwood floors. Amy Schulman, Peoplemag, 9 Mar. 2024 The part is supposed to remove fuel from the Evaporative Emissions (EVAP) system, but if the seal inside the suction jet pump fails, the gas could flow directly into the EVAP system, the recall notice shows. Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 22 Feb. 2024 Its powerful suction, peaking at -288(±5)mmHg, closely mimics a baby's natural nursing rhythm, ensuring efficient and comfortable milk expression. Hilary Tetenbaum, USA TODAY, 30 Jan. 2024 It’s got strong suction to pick up debris from hard floors and carpets — without a cord to trail. Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 29 Feb. 2024 Ah, the sweet, sweet relief of yanking open the front door and letting it suction shut, shutting out the noise and bustle of the city and all of the people in it. Katie Toussaint, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2024 The set comes with five realistic bird options to hand from the bendy wire and a suction replacement. Cai Cramer, Peoplemag, 16 Feb. 2024 Charlotte Moore, a patient-care technician, and Benedict Landgren, an ob-gyn, perform a uterine aspiration, in which suction is used to remove the fetus, placenta, or other membrane tissue. Maggie Shannon, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2024 The self-cleaning Freo X Ultra boasts an impressive 8,200 PA suction power, while the Freo X Plus will have 7,800 PA. Rudie Obias, The Hollywood Reporter, 25 Jan. 2024
Verb
Vacuum features technology that traps dust and allergens while suctioning. Rachel Trujillo, Peoplemag, 9 Nov. 2023 Doctors in April used a tube to suction out the spider and exoskeleton, according to a case report published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine. Aria Bendix, NBC News, 25 Oct. 2023 Wellness can look like a skincare treatment, hot cups suctioning out impurities, but this go-round, self-care looked like an invigorating submersion into a negative 170 degree cryotherapy chamber to improve overall health. India Espy-Jones, Essence, 29 Nov. 2023 The holder comes in several different colors and is designed to suction to your shower wall for stability. Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 1 Dec. 2023 Both models come with an LCD screen to display how many particles have been suctioned up, and a button to toggle between different modes, including auto, eco, and a boost mode for highest suction performance. Chuong Nguyen, Ars Technica, 23 Nov. 2023 Both Maker and Krueger also recommend investing in a portable spot cleaner, which will flush the stain with soap and water, rinse it and suction the area dry. Jandra Sutton, Washington Post, 1 Nov. 2023 This top-performing vacuum wowed us with its ability to suction up debris from both medium- and high-pile carpet, as well as hard surfaces like tile and hardwood. Brandi Fuller, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Oct. 2023 Meanwhile, another head deep-cleans floors and detangles pet hair as it gets suctioned into the disposal bin, preventing it from tangling and clogging the machine. Brittany Johnson, Health, 11 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'suction.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Late Latin suction-, suctio, from Latin sugere to suck — more at suck

First Known Use

Noun

1626, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1954, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of suction was in 1626

Dictionary Entries Near suction

Cite this Entry

“Suction.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/suction. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

suction

noun
suc·​tion
ˈsək-shən
1
: the act or process of sucking
2
a
: the action or process of drawing something (as liquid or dust) into a space (as a vacuum cleaner or a pump) by removing air from the space
b
: the force caused by suction

Medical Definition

suction

1 of 2 noun
suc·​tion ˈsək-shən How to pronounce suction (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on suction

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