partake
Americanverb (used without object)
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partakes,
present (3rd person singular)
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partook,
past
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partaken,
past participle
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partaking
present participle
-
to take or have a part or share along with others; participate (usually followed byin ).
He won't partake in the victory celebration.
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to receive, take, or have a share or portion (usually followed byof ).
to partake of a meal.
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to have something of the nature or character (usually followed byof ).
feelings partaking of both joy and regret.
verb (used with object)
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partakes,
present (3rd person singular)
-
partook,
past
-
partaken,
past participle
-
partaking
present participle
verb
-
(foll by in) to have a share; participate
to partake in the excitement
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(foll by of) to take or receive a portion, esp of food or drink
each partook of the food offered to him
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(foll by of) to suggest or have some of the quality (of)
music partaking of sadness
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archaic (tr) to share in
Usage
Partake of is sometimes wrongly used as if it were a synonym of eat or drink. Correctly, one can only partake of food or drink which is available for several people to share
Synonym Usage
See share 1.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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partakernoun
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prepartakeverb (used without object)
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partakableadjective
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unpartakenadjective
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unpartakingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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partakesimple
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partakessimple
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have partakenperfect
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has partakenperfect
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am partakingprogressive
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are partakingprogressive
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is partakingprogressive
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have been partakingperfect progressive
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has been partakingperfect progressive
Past
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partooksimple
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had partakenperfect
-
was partakingprogressive
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were partakingprogressive
-
had been partakingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of partake
First recorded in 1555–65; back formation from partaking, Middle English part taking, translation of Latin participātiō “taking part”; see participation
Explanation
When you partake in something, you join in, like when you partake in the three-legged race and bobbing for apples at your town fall festival. The verb partake is almost always followed by the word in, and used in a somewhat formal context. You partake in whatever activities you participate — or take part — in, like when you partake in a backyard football game or partake in your family's holiday cookie making party. If you get a share of something, you also partake of it, like when you partake of the delicious buffet at your cousin's wedding.
Vocabulary lists containing partake
Twelfth Night
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"Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte, Chapters 1–5
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The Birchbark House
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Chastened and anxious, she’s determined to partake in a polite meal and then skedaddle before her feelings overwhelm her.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026
Wealthier consumers continue to partake in what some Fed officials this year have called “unapologetic luxury,” driving up prices for jewelry, watches and other items in the process.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 15, 2026
"It's beginning to grate on me because I can't partake in helping with my defence," he told the court, according to CBS News, the BBC's US partner.
From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026
“Don’t know when he’s going to partake in a live situation, but that’ll be kind of a good gauge.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
The various fraternal organizations are working together to beautify the area around the spring with flower beds and benches and are building a special fountain so that all might come and partake.
From "Moon Over Manifest" by Clare Vanderpool
The new movie partakes of that same sense of damage, regret and reconciliation.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 1, 2022
The latest research adds on to exciting global research around dogs and language, like the study Bunny the Talking Dog partakes in, as Salon has previously reported.
From Salon ● Jan. 11, 2022
Not sinless, Pedro partakes not with bullets, but something even more powerful in its endurance: the images his lens extracts from orchestrated tableaux vivants.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 10, 2021
Then, in a scene that borders on the surreal, Anna partakes in a ritual that releases her from the past, resulting in a kind of rebirth.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 7, 2021
Literature, and especially poetry, as I have already pointed out, partakes of the character of both painting and music.
From Goblins and Pagodas by John Gould Fletcher
More than 350 bidders partook in the auction, Bonhams said in a release.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 12, 2025
The question hung over October’s Yale Family Weekend, as parents partook of cherished traditions like performances by the Yale Glee Club, lectures by distinguished faculty and tours of the neo-Gothic-style campus.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 10, 2025
The King and Queen later partook in a tree planting ceremony at Rideau Hall, the official residence of Canada's governor general.
From BBC ● May 26, 2025
On Thursday, Eberle partook in perhaps his final Kraken practice.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 7, 2024
The rope received the flame greedily; the transports of greed were succeeded by the profligacy of utmost generosity; and soon the whole store partook.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
In fact, of the 1,350 individuals concerned about their exposures from the wildfires who had partaken in the county’s lead blood testing program as of May 31, only seven had levels greater than 3.5 mcg/dL.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 2, 2025
Even the director, Joe Mantello, has partaken, putting on his actor’s cap to play a reporter in “American Horror Story: NYC.”
From New York Times ● May 17, 2023
Irving has sometimes expressed contrition about his more inexplicable behavior, but more often he’s partaken in modern celebrity’s favorite pastime: claiming he’s a victim of the media.
From Slate ● Jan. 14, 2021
Mulligan lent his moniker to the second chances that pretty much everyone has partaken in on golf courses across America.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 15, 2020
She had partaken of the arts—road companies of plays and even operas, with their magic and promise of an aromatic world outside.
From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
During her dream bridal shower, Williams and her friends munched on Asian food before partaking in a lip-synch battle.
From MarketWatch ● Dec. 29, 2025
Even investors who aren’t partaking in the selling should pay attention to big losers.
From Barron's ● Nov. 25, 2025
So partaking with ample time between races is allowed.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 11, 2025
Seventy-two percent of survey respondents said they plan to celebrate Halloween this year by partaking in modern holiday traditions, including handing out candy, decorating their home, dressing in costume and carving pumpkins.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 31, 2024
Their readers’ reward consists of partaking in—and, if they themselves write, helping to preserve—this rich patrimony.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
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