# soda

/ˈsoʊdə/ (US) · /sˈəʊdɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/soda
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. sweet fizzy drink

noun · CEFR A2 · American English

a sweet, cold drink with bubbles.

For teachers: a sweetened, carbonated soft drink.

- He bought a grape soda and a bag of chips at the corner store.
- The vending machine offered a wide variety of sodas, though most students preferred the low-sugar alternatives.

Usage: In the United States, this term is regional; 'pop' is common in the Midwest, while 'soda' dominates the Northeast and West Coast.

Teaching tip: Learners should be aware that 'soda' is the standard term in many parts of the US, but 'fizzy drink' is more common in the UK.

### 2. carbonated water

noun · CEFR B1

water with bubbles in it, often used to mix with other drinks.

For teachers: plain water impregnated with carbon dioxide, typically used as a mixer for alcoholic beverages or fruit juices.

- She ordered a tall glass of lime juice and soda with plenty of ice.
- The bartender added a splash of soda to the cocktail to give it a refreshing effervescence without altering the flavour profile.

### 3. chemical compound

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

a white powder used in cooking or cleaning, like baking soda.

For teachers: any of various sodium compounds, particularly sodium bicarbonate or sodium carbonate.

- The recipe calls for a teaspoon of baking soda to help the cake rise.
- Industrial applications of caustic soda range from paper manufacturing to the production of various cleaning agents.

## Examples

- I would like a cold soda with my lunch.
- The restaurant offers a wide variety of sodas, including cola, ginger ale, and lemon-lime flavours.
- While health campaigns have successfully reduced the consumption of sugary sodas in schools, the availability of diet alternatives remains a point of debate among nutritionists.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.