baptize

American  

[bap-tahyz, bap-tahyz] / bæpˈtaɪz, ˈbæp taɪz /

especially British, baptise

verb (used with object)

• baptizes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• baptized,
  past participle,  past
• baptizing
  present participle

1. to immerse in water or sprinkle or pour water on in the Christian rite of baptism.

   They baptized the new baby.

2. to cleanse spiritually; initiate or dedicate by purifying.

3. to give a name to at baptism; christen.

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verb (used without object)

• baptizes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• baptized,
  past participle,  past
• baptizing
  present participle

1. to administer baptism.

baptize British  

/ bæpˈtaɪz /

verb

1. Christianity to immerse (a person) in water or sprinkle water on (a person) as part of the rite of baptism

2. (tr) to give a name to; christen

3. (tr) to cleanse; purify

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• baptizement
  noun
• baptizer
  noun
• self-baptizer
  noun
• rebaptize
  verb
• baptizable
  adjective
• unbaptized
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• baptizing
  present
• baptized
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• baptize
  simple
• baptizes
  simple
• have baptized
  perfect
• has baptized
  perfect
• am baptizing
  progressive
• are baptizing
  progressive
• is baptizing
  progressive
• have been baptizing
  perfect progressive
• has been baptizing
  perfect progressive

Past

• baptized
  simple
• had baptized
  perfect
• was baptizing
  progressive
• were baptizing
  progressive
• had been baptizing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will baptize
  simple
• will have baptized
  perfect
• will be baptizing
  progressive
• will have been baptizing
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of baptize

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English, from Late Latin baptizāre, from Greek baptízein “to immerse,” from bápt(ein) “to dip” + -izein -ize

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Explanation

To baptize is the ritual of bringing someone into the religion of Christianity. It’s usually when little babies get their heads sprinkled with water in a church. The word baptize comes from Greek baptizein which means, "to dip in water." That’s what happens when you get baptized — you get sprinkled with or dunked in water by someone official from a church. Christian parents often choose to baptize their babies, but adults can get baptized, too.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

baptize baptizes baptized baptizing

“As a missionary, we didn’t have to receive special permission from somebody in order to baptize an undocumented individual,” she recalled.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2025

He then excused himself to help baptize a woman near the stage.

From New York Times ● Feb. 3, 2024

Román had come to the United States in 2021 for a short trip to baptize a relative.

From Seattle Times ● Nov. 16, 2023

“I now baptize you in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,” he intoned with a subtle southern twang.

From Slate ● Jul. 12, 2022

Like all villagers, we were required to ask the steward’s permission to be excused from work if ill, to grind our wheat, or bake it, to buy or to baptize our children.

From "Crispin: The Cross of Lead" by Avi

Miraculous moments in the story, such as water welling from a rock where Patrick later baptizes people, play out in a quiet tone.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 28, 2025

But in an explanatory note accompanying its decision, it recalled that when a priest baptizes someone, it is actually Christ performing the sacrament, not the community.

From Seattle Times ● Feb. 16, 2022

The blistering sun baptizes during the day; the infinite dust dries you out in the afternoon; the wind bites at night.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 15, 2021

Arkansas baptizes Texas in the cool, refreshing waters of SEC dominance.

From Fox News ● Sep. 12, 2021

With financial help from her boyfriend, she baptizes seven-year-old Diana.

From "Enrique's Journey" by Sonia Nazario

Jim Rigby, who baptized Talarico and married his parents, remembers the youngster as a "calming presence."

From Barron's ● Oct. 19, 2026

One option we floated, because I was baptized Catholic, was the iconic St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026

The pope on Saturday appealed to the converts and newly baptized in his homily:

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 26, 2026

That same sea that baptized me is, for thousands of others, a grave.

From Salon ● Aug. 5, 2026

“Asta’s son, listen to me with the greatest care. When I baptized you, you were named . Crispin.”

From "Crispin: The Cross of Lead" by Avi

The Bible recounts John the Baptist preaching to a flock around the Jordan River and baptizing Jesus there.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

The Russian Orthodox church was established in Alaska on Kodiak Island in 1794 and missionaries spread the faith, baptizing an estimated 18,000 Alaska Natives.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 28, 2023

What Mr. Porter said he did remember was wading into the church’s pool and baptizing himself — or, as he claims, having his head held down in the font by “something.”

From Washington Times ● Aug. 8, 2023

“I get what it looks like,” he says of his new job, which doesn’t involve baptizing pop stars in bathtubs or preaching to throngs of adoring congregants.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 15, 2023

It had been built some fifty years back, hidden in the woods, right near the river just in case somebody needed baptizing.

From "Stella by Starlight" by Sharon M. Draper

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Related Words

• immerse

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