Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense sacks, present participle sacking, past tense, past participle sacked
1. countable noun
A sack is a large bag made of rough woven material. Sacks are used to carry or store things such as vegetables or coal.
...a sack of potatoes. [+ of]
Synonyms: bag, pocket, poke [Scottish], sac More Synonyms of sack
2. verb
If your employers sack you, they tell you that you can no longer work for them because you have done something that theydid not like or because your work was not good enough.
[business]
He had sacked the teacher as soon as he heard of her misconduct. [VERB noun]
An airport worker who was sacked for wearing a nose stud has won back her job. [VERB noun]
Sack is also a noun.
People who make mistakes can be given the sack the same day.
3. verb
When an army sacks a town or city, they destroy it, taking away all valuable things.
In 1527 Imperial troops sacked the French ambassador's residence in Rome. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: plunder, loot, pillage, destroy More Synonyms of sack
Sack is also a noun.
The Odyssey tells what happened to the Greek heroes after the sack of Troy.
4. singular noun
Some people refer to bed as the sack.
[informal]
More Synonyms of sack
sack in British English1
(sæk)
noun
1.
a large bag made of coarse cloth, thick paper, etc, used as a container
2. Also called: sackful
the amount contained in a sack, sometimes used as a unit of measurement
3.
a.
a woman's loose tube-shaped dress
b. Also called: sacque
a woman's full loose hip-length jacket, worn in the 18th and mid-20th centuries
4. short for rucksack
5. cricket, Australian
a run scored off a ball not struck by the batsman: allotted to the team as an extra and not to the individual batsman
Also called (in Britain and certain other countries): bye
6. the sack
7. a slang word for bed
8. hit the sack
9. rough as sacks
verb(transitive)
10. informal
to dismiss from employment
11.
to put into a sack or sacks
Derived forms
sacklike (ˈsackˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
Old English sacc, from Latin saccus bag, from Greek sakkos; related to Hebrew saq
sack in British English2
(sæk)
noun
1.
the plundering of a place by an army or mob, usually involving destruction, slaughter, etc
2. American football
a tackle which brings the quarterback down before he or she has passed the ball
verb
3. (transitive)
to plunder and partially destroy (a place)
4. American football
to tackle and bring down a quarterback before he or she has passed the ball
Derived forms
sacker (ˈsacker)
noun
Word origin
C16: from French phrase mettre à sac, literally: to put (loot) in a sack, from Latin saccussack1
sack in British English3
(sæk)
noun
archaic or trademark
any dry white wine formerly imported into Britain from SW Europe
Word origin
C16 wyne seck, from French vin sec dry wine, from Latin siccus dry
sack in American English1
(sæk)
noun
1.
a.
a bag, esp. a large one of coarse cloth, for holding grain, foodstuffs, etc.
b.
such a bag with its contents
2.
the quantity contained in such a bag: a measure of weight of varying amounts
3.
a.
a short, loosefitting jacket worn by women
b.
shift (sense 18) shift (sense 18b)
4. Slang
dismissal from a job; discharge
with the
5. US, Slang
a bed, bunk, etc.
6. US, Baseball
base1 (sense 9)
7. US, American Football
the act of sacking a quarterback
verb transitive
8.
to put into a sack or sacks
9. Slang
to dismiss (a person) from a job; discharge
10. US, American Football
to tackle (a quarterback) behind the line of scrimmage
▶ USAGE: For sack1 (sense 4) sack1 (sense 9), considered informal in Brit. usage
Idioms:
sack in
hit the sack
Word origin
ME sak < OE sacc, akin to OHG sac, Goth sakkus < early Gmc borrowing < L saccus, bag, in LL(Ec), sackcloth garment < Gr sakkos < Sem: cf. Heb sak, Akkadian shaqqu, sackcloth
sack in American English2
(sæk)
noun
1.
the plundering or looting, esp. by soldiers, of a captured city or town
verb transitive
2.
to plunder or loot (a captured city, etc.)
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈravage
Word origin
MFr sac < It sacco, plunder, lit., bag < L saccus: see sack1
sack in American English3
(sæk)
noun
any of various dry white wines from Spain or the Canary Islands, popular in England during the 16th and 17th cent.
Word origin
earlier (wyne)seck < Fr (vin)sec, dry (wine) < L siccus, dry (see siccative); sp. infl. by ? Sp (vino de) saca, (wine for) export < sacar, to remove
More idioms containing
sack
hit the sack
Word lists with
sack
dress, Terms used in American football, Wines
In other languages
sack
British English: sack /sæk/ NOUN
bag A sack is a large bag made of rough woven material.
...a sack of potatoes.
American English: sack container
Arabic: جُوَالِق
Brazilian Portuguese: saco
Chinese: 麻袋
Croatian: vreća
Czech: pytel
Danish: sæk
Dutch: zak tas
European Spanish: saco
Finnish: säkki
French: sac
German: Sack
Greek: σακί
Italian: sacco
Japanese: 大袋
Korean: 부대 가방
Norwegian: sekk
Polish: worek
European Portuguese: saco
Romanian: sac
Russian: мешок
Latin American Spanish: saco
Swedish: säck
Thai: กระสอบ ไล่ออก
Turkish: çuval
Ukrainian: мішок
Vietnamese: bao tải
British English: sack /sæk/ NOUN
dismissal If your employers give you the sack, they tell you to leave your job.
One girl got the sack for telling lies.
American English: job dismissal
Arabic: صَرْف فصل
Brazilian Portuguese: demissão
Chinese: 解雇
Croatian: otkaz
Czech: vyhazov
Danish: fyring
Dutch: ontslag
European Spanish: despido
Finnish: potkut
French: renvoi
German: Entlassung
Greek: απόλυση
Italian: licenziamento
Japanese: 解雇
Korean: 해고
Norwegian: oppsigelse
Polish: zwolnienie zdymisjonowanie
European Portuguese: demissão
Romanian: concediere
Russian: увольнение
Latin American Spanish: despido
Swedish: sparken
Thai: ไล่ออก
Turkish: işten atma
Ukrainian: звільнення
Vietnamese: sự sa thải
British English: sack /sæk/ VERB
If your employers sack you, they tell you to leave your job.
He was sacked from that job this month.
American English: fire
Arabic: يَصْرِفُ مِنَ الـخِدْمَة
Brazilian Portuguese: demitir
Chinese: 开除
Croatian: otpustiti
Czech: vyhodit z práce
Danish: fyre
Dutch: ontslaan
European Spanish: echar del trabajo
Finnish: antaa potkut
French: renvoyer licenciement
German: entlassen
Greek: διώχνω
Italian: licenziare
Japanese: 首にする
Korean: 부대에 담다
Norwegian: gi sparken
Polish: zwolnić
European Portuguese: demitir
Romanian: a concedia
Russian: увольнять
Latin American Spanish: echar del trabajo
Swedish: avskeda
Thai: ปลดออกจากงาน
Turkish: işten atmak
Ukrainian: звільняти
Vietnamese: sa thải
All related terms of 'sack'
sack in
→ hit the sack
Coal Sack
a dark nebula in the Milky Way close to the Southern Cross
sack coat
a man's loosefitting, straight-backed coat
sack race
a race in which the competitors ' legs and often bodies are enclosed in sacks
sad sack
an inept person who makes mistakes despite good intentions
the sack
dismissal from employment
croker sack
a bag made of burlap or similar material
gunny sack
a coarse hard-wearing fabric usually made from jute and used for sacks , etc
sack dress
a large bag made of coarse cloth, thick paper, etc, used as a container
hit the sack
to go to bed
coalsack
a sack in which coal is carried
mailbag
A mailbag is a large bag that is used by postal workers for carrying mail.
back, sack, and crack
( cosmetic depilation of) the back, scrotum , and the area between the buttocks
Chinese translation of 'sack'
sack
(sæk)
n(c)
(= bag) 麻袋 (mádài) (个(個), gè)
vt
(= dismiss) 解雇(僱) (jiěgù)
(= plunder) 洗劫 (xǐjié)
to get the sack被解雇(僱) (bèi jiěgù)
to give sb the sack解雇(僱)某人 (jiěgù mǒurén)
to sack sb for sth/for doing sth因某事/做某事解雇(僱)某人 (yīn mǒushì/zuò mǒushì jiěgù mǒurén)
(noun)
Definition
a large bag made of coarse cloth or thick paper and used for carrying or storing goods
a sack of potatoes
Synonyms
bag
She left the hotel carrying a shopping bag.
pocket
a canvas container with customised pockets for each tool
poke (Scottish)
sac
The lungs consist of millions of tiny air sacs.
pouch
a leather pouch full of tobacco
receptacle
(verb)
Definition
to dismiss from employment
(informal)
They were sacked for financial mismanagement.
Synonyms
dismiss
the power to dismiss civil servants who refuse to work
fire (informal)
She was fired from her job.
axe (informal)
He was axed by the club after his comments about a referee.
discharge
He was dishonourably discharged from the army.
kick out (informal)
give (someone) the boot (slang)
give (someone) their marching orders
kiss off (slang, mainly US, Canadian)
give (someone) the push (informal)
give (someone) the bullet (British, slang)
give (someone) their books (informal)
give (someone) the elbow
give (someone) their cards
give (someone) their P45 (British, informal)
give (someone) their pink slip (US, informal)
kennet (Australian, slang)
jeff (Australian, slang)
idiom
See hit the sack
phrase
See the sack
(verb)
Definition
to plunder and partially destroy (a town or city)
Imperial troops sacked the French ambassador's residence in Rome.
Synonyms
plunder
They plundered and burned the town.
loot
Gangs began breaking windows and looting shops.
pillage
Soldiers went on a rampage, pillaging stores and shooting.
destroy
The building was completely destroyed.
strip
The government is slowly stripping us of our rights.
rob
A man who tried to rob a bank was sentenced yesterday.
raid
The guerrillas raided banks and destroyed a police barracks.
ruin
Roads have been destroyed and crops ruined.
devastate
A fire devastated large parts of the castle.
spoil
It is important not to let mistakes spoil your life.
rifle
The child rifled the till while her mother distracted the postmistress.
demolish
The building is being demolished to make way for a motorway.
ravage
Drought ravaged the area.
lay waste
despoil (formal)
the modern day industry which has despoiled the town
maraud
Mobs marauded around the city.
depredate (rare)
(noun)
Definition
the plundering of a captured town or city by an army or mob
the sack of Troy
Synonyms
plundering
looting
pillage
There were no signs of violence or pillage.
waste
rape
the rape of the environment
ruin
It is the ruin of society.
destruction
the extensive destruction caused by the rioters
ravage
the ravages of a cold, wet climate
plunder
a guerrilla group infamous for plunder
devastation
A huge bomb blast brought devastation to the centre of the city.
depredation
Crops can be decimated by the unchecked depredations of deer.
despoliation (formal)
the despoliation of the countryside by roads
rapine
Additional synonyms
in the sense of axe
Definition
to dismiss (employees), restrict (expenditure), or terminate (a project)
He was axed by the club after his comments about a referee.
Synonyms
dismiss,
fire (informal),
sack (informal),
remove,
get rid of,
discharge,
throw out,
oust,
give (someone) their marching orders,
give the boot to (slang, old-fashioned),
give the bullet to (British, slang),
give the push to,
give (someone) their P45 (British, informal),
give (someone) their pink slip (US, informal),
kennet (Australian, slang),
jeff (Australian, slang)
in the sense of demolish
Definition
to tear down or break up (buildings)
The building is being demolished to make way for a motorway.
Synonyms
knock down,
level,
destroy,
ruin,
overthrow,
dismantle,
flatten,
trash (slang),
total (slang),
tear down,
bulldoze,
raze,
pulverize
in the sense of depredation
Definition
plundering
Crops can be decimated by the unchecked depredations of deer.
Synonyms
destruction,
ravaging,
devastation,
ransacking,
pillage,
plunder,
marauding,
laying waste,
despoiling,
rapine,
spoliation
Synonyms of 'sack'
sack
Explore 'sack' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of despoil
Definition
to plunder
the modern day industry which has despoiled the town
Synonyms
plunder,
destroy,
strip,
rob,
devastate,
wreck,
rifle,
deprive,
loot,
trash (slang),
total (slang),
ravage,
dispossess,
pillage,
divest,
denude,
vandalize,
wreak havoc upon
in the sense of despoliation
the despoliation of the countryside by roads
Synonyms
plunder,
ruin,
destruction,
looting,
havoc,
wreckage,
devastation,
vandalism,
pillage,
depredation,
despoilment
in the sense of destroy
Definition
to ruin
The building was completely destroyed.
Synonyms
ruin,
smash,
crush,
waste,
devastate,
break down,
wreck,
shatter,
gut,
wipe out,
dispatch,
dismantle,
demolish,
trash (slang),
total (slang),
ravage,
slay (archaic, literary),
eradicate,
torpedo,
extinguish,
desolate,
annihilate,
put paid to,
raze,
blow to bits,
extirpate (archaic),
blow sky-high
in the sense of destruction
Definition
the act of destroying something or state of being destroyed
the extensive destruction caused by the rioters
Synonyms
ruin,
havoc,
wreckage,
crushing,
wrecking,
shattering,
undoing,
demolition,
devastation,
annihilation,
ruination
in the sense of devastate
Definition
to damage (a place) severely or destroy it
A fire devastated large parts of the castle.
Synonyms
destroy,
waste,
ruin,
sack,
wreck,
spoil,
demolish,
trash (slang),
level,
total (slang),
ravage,
plunder,
desolate,
pillage,
raze,
lay waste,
despoil (formal)
in the sense of devastation
A huge bomb blast brought devastation to the centre of the city.
Synonyms
destruction,
ruin,
havoc,
ravages,
demolition,
plunder,
pillage,
desolation,
depredation,
ruination,
spoliation
in the sense of discharge
Definition
to dismiss (someone) from duty or employment
He was dishonourably discharged from the army.
Synonyms
dismiss,
sack (informal),
fire (informal),
remove,
expel,
discard,
oust,
eject,
cashier,
give (someone) the boot (slang),
give (someone) the sack (informal),
give (someone) their P45 (British, informal),
give (someone) their pink slip (US, informal),
kennet (Australian, slang),
jeff (Australian, slang)
in the sense of fire
Definition
to dismiss from employment
She was fired from her job.
Synonyms
dismiss,
sack (informal),
get rid of,
discharge,
lay off,
make redundant,
cashier,
give notice,
show (someone) the door,
give (someone) the boot (slang),
kiss off (slang, US, Canadian),
give (someone) the push,
give (someone) the bullet (British, slang),
give (someone) their marching orders,
give (someone) their cards,
give (someone) the sack (informal),
give (someone) their P45 (British, informal),
give (someone) their pink slip (US, informal),
kennet (Australian, slang),
jeff (Australian, slang)
in the sense of loot
Definition
to steal (money or goods) during war or riots
Gangs began breaking windows and looting shops.
Synonyms
plunder,
rob,
raid,
sack,
rifle,
ravage,
ransack,
pillage,
despoil (formal)
in the sense of maraud
Definition
to wander or raid in search of plunder
Mobs marauded around the city.
Synonyms
raid,
loot,
plunder,
ransack,
sack,
harry,
ravage,
foray,
forage,
pillage,
despoil (formal),
reive (dialect)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of pillage
Definition
to steal property violently, often in war
Soldiers went on a rampage, pillaging stores and shooting.
Synonyms
plunder,
strip,
sack,
rob,
raid,
spoil (archaic),
rifle,
loot,
ravage,
ransack,
despoil (formal),
maraud,
reive (dialect),
depredate (rare),
freeboot,
spoliate
in the sense of pillage
Definition
the act of pillaging
There were no signs of violence or pillage.
Synonyms
plundering,
sacking,
robbery,
plunder,
sack,
devastation,
marauding,
depredation,
rapine,
spoliation
in the sense of pocket
Definition
any pouchlike container, esp. for catching balls at the edge of a snooker table
a canvas container with customised pockets for each tool
Synonyms
pouch,
bag,
sack,
hollow,
compartment,
receptacle
in the sense of pouch
Definition
a small bag
a leather pouch full of tobacco
Synonyms
bag,
pocket,
sack,
container,
purse (US),
poke (dialect)
in the sense of raid
Definition
to sneak into (a place) in order to steal
The guerrillas raided banks and destroyed a police barracks.
Synonyms
steal from,
break into,
loot,
plunder,
ransack,
pillage,
sack
in the sense of rape
Definition
any violation or abuse
the rape of the environment
Synonyms
plundering,
pillage,
depredation,
despoliation (formal),
rapine,
spoliation,
despoilment,
sack
in the sense of rapine
Definition
pillage or plundering
Synonyms
pillage,
rape,
sack,
theft,
robbery,
looting,
seizure,
plundering,
ransacking,
marauding,
depredation,
despoliation (formal),
spoliation,
despoilment
in the sense of ravage
Definition
to cause extensive damage to
Drought ravaged the area.
Synonyms
destroy,
ruin,
devastate,
wreck,
shatter,
gut,
spoil,
loot,
demolish,
plunder,
desolate,
sack,
ransack,
pillage,
raze,
lay waste,
wreak havoc on,
despoil (formal),
leave in ruins
in the sense of ravage
Definition
the damaging effects
the ravages of a cold, wet climate
Synonyms
damage,
destruction,
devastation,
desolation,
waste,
ruin,
havoc,
demolition,
plunder,
pillage,
depredation,
ruination,
rapine,
spoliation
in the sense of rifle
Definition
to steal and carry off
The child rifled the till while her mother distracted the postmistress.
Synonyms
ransack,
rob,
burgle,
loot,
strip,
sack,
gut,
plunder,
pillage,
despoil (formal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of rob
A man who tried to rob a bank was sentenced yesterday.
Synonyms
raid,
hold up,
break into,
sack,
loot,
plunder,
burgle,
ransack,
pillage
in the sense of ruin
Definition
to destroy or spoil completely
Roads have been destroyed and crops ruined.
Synonyms
destroy,
devastate,
wreck,
trash (slang),
break,
total (slang),
defeat,
smash,
crush,
overwhelm,
shatter,
overturn,
overthrow,
bring down,
demolish,
raze,
lay waste,
lay in ruins,
wreak havoc upon,
bring to ruin,
bring to nothing,
kennet (Australian, slang),
jeff (Australian, slang)
in the sense of ruin
Definition
the state of being destroyed or decayed
It is the ruin of society.
Synonyms
destruction,
fall,
the end,
breakdown,
damage,
defeat,
failure,
crash,
collapse,
wreck,
overthrow,
undoing,
havoc,
Waterloo,
downfall,
devastation,
dissolution,
subversion,
nemesis,
crackup (informal)
in the sense of sac
Definition
a pouch or pouchlike part in an animal or plant
The lungs consist of millions of tiny air sacs.
Synonyms
pouch,
bag,
pocket,
bladder,
pod,
cyst,
bursa,
vesicle
in the sense of spoil
Definition
to make (something) less valuable, beautiful, or useful
It is important not to let mistakes spoil your life.
Synonyms
ruin,
destroy,
wreck,
damage,
total (slang),
blow (slang),
injure,
upset,
harm,
mar,
scar,
undo,
trash (slang),
impair,
mess up,
blemish,
disfigure,
debase,
deface,
put a damper on,
crool or cruel (Australian, slang)
in the sense of strip
Definition
to take something away from (someone)
The government is slowly stripping us of our rights.