sumo

noun

su·​mo ˈsü-(ˌ)mō How to pronounce sumo (audio)
: a Japanese form of wrestling in which a contestant loses if he is forced out of the ring or if any part of his body except the soles of his feet touches the ground

Examples of sumo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This might mean trying out a sumo stance for a deadlift or squat, or even working on different points of focus throughout the range of motion of an exercise with moves like a rack pull or floor press. Brett Williams, Men's Health, 27 Feb. 2023 There’s a library overflowing with design books, and a Great Hall modeled on a sumo stadium whose polished timber bleachers can seat 1,000 for large presentations. Time, 13 Nov. 2023 In some ways, Jackson Wald’s look at sumo in NYC is a typical scrappy-band-of-enthusiasts subculture story. Peter Rubin, Longreads, 14 Sep. 2023 The film is based on the life of Hetal Dave, India’s first professional female sumo wrestler. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 25 Oct. 2023 In Japan, sumo wrestlers are recruited six times a year, with the springtime usually seeing the highest number of recruits. Christine Rousselle, Fox News, 20 Oct. 2023 My character had to be proficient in both judo and sumo, so mastering both martial arts became a crucial requirement. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 25 Oct. 2023 The protagonist, Akio, is a scrappy and impulsive 18-year-old orphan determined to make it to the top of the sumo world, no matter the cost. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Oct. 2023 The art of rigging, which demands full-body action and intricate folding, is a combination of sumo wrestling and origami-making. Alfredo Sosa, The Christian Science Monitor, 19 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sumo.' 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

Japanese sumō

First Known Use

1893, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sumo was in 1893

Dictionary Entries Near sumo

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

sumo

noun
su·​mo ˈsü-mō How to pronounce sumo (audio)
: a Japanese form of wrestling in which a contestant loses if forced out of the ring or if any part of the body except the soles of the feet touches the ground
Etymology

Japanese

More from Merriam-Webster on sumo

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