soak

[sohk]

verb (used without object)

1. to lie in and become saturated or permeated with water or some other liquid.

2. to pass, as a liquid, through pores, holes, or the like.

   The rain soaked through the tear in the umbrella.

   Synonyms: seep

3. to be thoroughly wet.

   Her shoes and socks were soaking and her feet were freezing.

4. to penetrate or become known to the mind or feelings (followed byin ).

   The lesson didn't soak in.

   Synonyms: seep

5. Informal.,  to drink immoderately, especially alcoholic beverages.

   They were soaking at the bar.

verb (used with object)

1. to place or keep in liquid in order to saturate thoroughly; steep.

2. to wet thoroughly; saturate or drench.

   Antonyms: dry

3. to permeate thoroughly, as liquid or moisture does.

   Synonyms: penetrate, infuse

4. Metallurgy.,  to heat (a piece) for reworking.

5. Informal.,  to intoxicate (oneself ) by drinking an excess of liquor.

6. Slang.,  to beat hard; punish severely.

   I was soaked for that mistake.

7. to extract or remove by or as by soaking (often followed byout ).

   to soak a stain out of a napkin.

8. Slang.,  to overcharge.

   He was soaked by the waiter.

noun

1. the act or state of soaking or the state of being soaked.

2. the liquid in which anything is soaked.

3. Slang: Disparaging and Offensive.,  a habitual drinker of alcohol who is frequently intoxicated; a heavy drinker.

4. Australian.,  any small area of land, as near a spring or at the foot of a hill, that becomes swamplike or holds water after a period of heavy rain.

verb phrase

1. soak up

   1. to absorb or take in or up by absorption.

      Blotting paper soaks up ink.

   2. to absorb with one's mind or senses; take in.

      to soak up information.

   3. Slang.,  to drink to excess.

      He can really soak up the booze.

soak

/ səʊk /

verb

1. to make, become, or be thoroughly wet or saturated, esp by immersion in a liquid

2. (of a liquid) to penetrate or permeate

3. (tr; usually foll by in or up) (of a permeable solid) to take in (a liquid) by absorption

   the earth soaks up rainwater

4. (tr; foll by out or out of) to remove by immersion in a liquid

   she soaked the stains out of the dress

5. (tr) metallurgy to heat (a metal) prior to working

6. informal,  to drink excessively or make or become drunk

7. slang,  (tr) to overcharge

8. slang,  (tr) to put in pawn

noun

1. the act of immersing in a liquid or the period of immersion

2. the liquid in which something may be soaked, esp a solution containing detergent

3. another name for soakage

4. informal,  a heavy rainfall

5. slang,  a person who drinks to excess

Other Word Forms

• soaker noun
• soakingly adverb
• oversoak verb
• resoak verb
• unsoaked adjective
• well-soaked adjective
• soaking noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of soak¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English soken, Old English sōcian; akin to suck

Word History and Origins

Origin of soak¹

Old English sōcian to cook; see _suck

Synonym Study

See wet.

Example Sentences

The customer sits in the chair for the entire day, and when it’s over, Miriam’s fingers are so blistered that the others rush to get her an Epsom salt soak.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

For a dramatically stripped-bare version of Paparazzi, she's on crutches, snarling at photographers, but soaking up the public's adoration until it frees her to walk unaided.

Read more on BBC

As a kid, her dad encouraged her to soak up the classics, from Nick Cave and King Tubby to The Pogues and hours of music from Pakistan.

Read more on BBC

"I remember getting on a tour bus for the first time, and I was just soaking it in because I thought I'd never get back on one again," he said.

Read more on BBC

At night, Piña says his apartment glows from the streetlights and soaks up the energy from the neighborhood.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• absorb 
• bathe 
• dip 
• drink 
• drown 
• flood 
• immerse 
• marinate 
• moisten 
• penetrate 
• saturate 
• soften 
• steep 
• submerge 
• wash