sob
B1Neutral to Informal (when describing emotional crying).
Definition
Meaning
To cry noisily, making short, gasping sounds while drawing in breath, typically because of sadness, pain, or distress.
The act or sound of sobbing; also used figuratively to describe a plaintive, mournful sound (e.g., the wind sobbed).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies more audible, convulsive, and often more childlike or helpless crying than 'weep'. Can be used transitively with uttered words (e.g., 'sob out a story').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Equally strong connotations of deep, audible distress in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American emotional narratives, but overall equally common.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
sob (intransitive)sob oneself to sleep (reflexive)sob out + speech (transitive)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “sob story (a tale of personal distress meant to evoke sympathy)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Potentially used in informal narratives about workplace stress (e.g., 'She sobbed after the hostile takeover meeting').
Academic
Rare in formal writing, except in literary analysis or psychological case studies describing emotional expression.
Everyday
Common for describing audible, emotional crying in personal conversations and narratives.
Technical
Used in psychology/psychiatry to describe a specific type of crying behaviour. Also in vocal/sound description (e.g., 'a sob in her voice').
Examples
By Part of Speech
noun
British English
- A single sob escaped her before she composed herself.
- The speech was punctuated by quiet sobs from the audience.
American English
- She answered with a sob in her voice.
- He let out a shuddering sob of relief.
verb
British English
- The child began to sob when he lost his favourite toy.
- She sobbed into her handkerchief throughout the sad film.
American English
- He sobbed uncontrollably after hearing the tragic news.
- I could hear her sobbing in the next room.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The baby sobbed because he was hungry.
- Don't sob, I will help you find it.
- She started to sob when she read the sad letter.
- I could hear soft sobs coming from the bedroom.
- He sobbed out his apology, his words barely intelligible.
- The film's ending left several viewers audibly sobbing.
- Wracked with guilt, she sobbed herself to sleep night after night.
- The plaintiff's sob story failed to convince the sceptical judge.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
SOB sounds like the gasping intake of breath 's-' and the outward burst '-ob' you make when crying hard.
Conceptual Metaphor
SADNESS IS A PHYSICAL FORCE / BURDEN (e.g., 'She was sobbing under the weight of her grief').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid overusing 'sob' for any quiet crying. Russian 'рыдать' is a closer match than general 'плакать'.
- The noun 'sob' (всхлип) is countable: 'She let out a sob' (Она издала всхлип).
Common Mistakes
- Using 'sob' for silent crying (use 'weep' or 'cry quietly').
- Confusing 'sob' with 'cry' in formal medical/technical descriptions where precision is needed.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'sob' most accurately?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Cry' is the general term. 'Weep' is more literary and often implies silent or quiet tears. 'Sob' specifically emphasises the convulsive, audible gasps for breath.
It's less common. 'Sob' strongly connotes distress, pain, or overwhelming sadness. Happy tears are more often described as 'crying' or 'weeping for joy'.
Yes, it describes a story told to gain sympathy, often with the implication that it is exaggerated or manipulative.
It can be, depending on context. It portrays vulnerability. In formal or detached writing, 'wept' or 'cried audibly' might be preferred.