imbibe

[ im-bahyb ]

verb (used with object)

, im·bibed, im·bib·ing.

1. to consume (liquids) by drinking; drink:

   He imbibed great quantities of iced tea.

   Synonyms: swallow

2. to absorb or soak up, as water, light, or heat:

   Plants imbibe moisture from the soil.

3. to take or receive into the mind, as knowledge, ideas, or the like:

   to imbibe a sermon; to imbibe beautiful scenery.

verb (used without object)

, im·bibed, im·bib·ing.

1. to drink, especially alcoholic beverages:

   Just a soft drink for me—I don't imbibe.

2. to absorb liquid or moisture.
3. Archaic. to soak or saturate; imbue.

imbibe

/ ɪmˈbaɪb /

verb

1. to drink (esp alcoholic drinks)
2. literary.
   to take in or assimilate (ideas, facts, etc)

   to imbibe the spirit of the Renaissance

3. tr to take in as if by drinking

   to imbibe fresh air

4. to absorb or cause to absorb liquid or moisture; assimilate or saturate

Derived Forms

• imˈbiber, noun

Other Words From

• im·biber noun
• preim·bibe verb (used with object) preimbibed preimbibing
• unim·bibed adjective
• unim·bibing adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of imbibe¹

1350–1400; < Latin imbibere to drink in, equivalent to im- im- ¹ + bibere to drink; replacing Middle English enbiben < Middle French embiber < Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of imbibe¹

C14: from Latin imbibere, from bibere to drink

Synonym Study

See drink.

Example Sentences

OK, so he used to imbibe to excess, but he no longer partakes.

From The Daily Beast

At the very least, they establish a tone and mindset that rank-and-file liberals imbibe and accept.

From The Daily Beast

Single or spoken for, everyone has reason enough to imbibe on the most loved/hated holiday around.

From The Daily Beast

Anneli Rufus on 15 stats that predict your propensity to imbibe.

From The Daily Beast

Sutherland is perhaps the most righteous in his intoxication of all the celebrities known to conspicuously imbibe.

From The Daily Beast

Nothing was more natural than that two such women should imbibe the deepest tenderness for each other.

From Project Gutenberg

The peasants imbibe a little noisy merriment at the tavern, but their helpmates always have grave, stern countenances.

From Project Gutenberg

M. de Voltaire, say they, never could imbibe these Sentiments in France.

From Project Gutenberg

It may be truly said, with regard to those who imbibe the spirit of their Master, "no man liveth to himself."

From Project Gutenberg

Animal miasmata, like all other poison, become more active in proportion to the quantity which we imbibe.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• assimilate
• guzzle
• ingest
• quaff