imbibe

[ im-bahyb ]

See synonyms for imbibe on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),im·bibed, im·bib·ing.

to consume (liquids) by drinking; drink: He imbibed great quantities of iced tea.
to absorb or soak up, as water, light, or heat: Plants imbibe moisture from the soil.

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.

to drink, especially alcoholic beverages: Just a soft drink for me—I don't imbibe.
to absorb liquid or moisture.

Archaic. to soak or saturate; imbue.

Origin of imbibe

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

synonym study For imbibe

1. See drink.

Other words for imbibe

swallow

See synonyms for imbibe on Thesaurus.com

Other words from imbibe

im·bib·er, noun
pre·im·bibe, verb (used with object), pre·im·bibed, pre·im·bib·ing.
un·im·bibed, adjective
un·im·bib·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use imbibe in a sentence

This, the new generation of Baruch Goldsteinsand Yoel Lerners, is imbibing the doctrine of truth, fearlessness and xenophobia.
'Kahane For Kids' | Elisheva Goldberg | November 5, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
Certainly many of us at home are imbibing, so perhaps in-seat service for those in the theater is worth trying.
The Oscars: 21 Fixes for the Show So It’s Less Boring | Evan Shapiro | February 20, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
Still, as with drinking and driving, serious imbibing leads to trouble.
The 21 Healthiest—And Fattiest—Cocktails | The Daily Beast | July 13, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
You have been imbibing the drop too much and will hear of this from the Company.
Baboo Jabberjee, B.A. | F. Anstey
If it be left exposed to the atmosphere, it will of itself, by gradually imbibing moisture, fall into the state of powder.
Heads of Lectures on a Course of Experimental Philosophy: Particularly Including Chemistry | Joseph Priestley

That winter John Paul spent striving in vain for a better ship, and imbibing tactics from the French admirals.
Richard Carvel, Complete | Winston Churchill
Some of the women laughed also in a manner which testified to the brand of “tea” they had been imbibing that morning.
The Viking Blood | Frederick William Wallace
It has already been said, that Hume appears to have suspected that his nephew, David, was imbibing republican principles.
Life and Correspondence of David Hume, Volume II (of 2) | John Hill Burton

British Dictionary definitions for imbibe

imbibe

/ (ɪmˈbaɪb) /

verb

to drink (esp alcoholic drinks)
literary to take in or assimilate (ideas, facts, etc): to imbibe the spirit of the Renaissance

(tr) to take in as if by drinking: to imbibe fresh air
to absorb or cause to absorb liquid or moisture; assimilate or saturate

Origin of imbibe

C14: from Latin imbibere, from bibere to drink

Derived forms of imbibe

imbiber, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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