imbue

American  

[im-byoo] / ɪmˈbyu /

verb (used with object)

imbued, imbuing

1. to impregnate or inspire, as with feelings, opinions, etc..

   The new political leader was imbued with the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi.

   Synonyms:

   fire, infect, charge

2. to saturate or impregnate with moisture, color, etc.

   Synonyms:

   soak, tincture, infuse, permeate

3. to imbrue.

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imbue British  

/ ɪmˈbjuː /

verb

1. to instil or inspire (with ideals, principles, etc)

   his sermons were imbued with the spirit of the Reformation

2. rare to soak, esp with moisture, dye, etc

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Other Word Forms

• imbuement noun
• preimbue verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of imbue

First recorded in 1545–55, imbue is from the Latin word imbuere “to wet, drench”

Example Sentences

But Roslyn Ruff, a talented actor who speaks the verse with commendable clarity, fails to imbue the character with the necessary domineering imperiousness.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 14, 2026

"Artificial intelligence lacks feelings and memories; in short, it has no nafas... It can't imbue it into food."

From Barron's • Nov. 30, 2025

So when we’re constructing it, we tried to imbue as much meaning as we could put into it and hopefully that would come through.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 19, 2024

They have sought to imbue the app with social norms, like encouraging users to post alt text with their pictures so that blind users can engage with them.

From Slate • Nov. 12, 2024

Ernest’s genius, Seaborg perceived, was to draw into his orbit like-minded scientists in every field, not just physics, and imbue them with his own drive to build and perfect his magnificent invention.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Related Words

• inculcate
• ingrain
• instill
• leaven
• permeate
• pervade
• steep
• suffuse