infuse
Americanverb (used with object)
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infuses,
present (3rd person singular)
-
infused,
past participle, past
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infusing
present participle
-
to introduce, as if by pouring; cause to penetrate; instill (usually followed byinto ).
The energetic new principal infused new life into the school.
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to imbue or inspire (usually followed bywith ).
The new coach infused the team with enthusiasm.
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to steep or soak (leaves, bark, roots, etc.) in a liquid so as to extract the soluble properties or ingredients.
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Obsolete. to pour in.
verb (used without object)
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infuses,
present (3rd person singular)
-
infused,
past participle, past
-
infusing
present participle
verb
-
to instil or inculcate
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to inspire; emotionally charge
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to soak or be soaked in order to extract flavour or other properties
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rare (foll by into) to pour
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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infusernoun
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reinfuseverb (used with object)
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superinfuseverb (used with object)
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uninfusedadjective
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uninfusingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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infusesimple
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infusessimple
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have infusedperfect
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has infusedperfect
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am infusingprogressive
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are infusingprogressive
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is infusingprogressive
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have been infusingperfect progressive
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has been infusingperfect progressive
Past
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infusedsimple
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had infusedperfect
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was infusingprogressive
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were infusingprogressive
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had been infusingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of infuse
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin infūsus, past participle of infundere “to pour into”; see in- 2, fuse 2
Explanation
To infuse is to steep something in a liquid to extract the flavors from it. You'll impress your friends with your cooking if you infuse rosemary and thyme in broth and then use the liquid to marinate chicken. To infuse also means to inspire or fill with a certain quality. Your goal might be to infuse your writing with such humor that your readers laugh until they cry. The medical meaning of infuse is to introduce a medicinal therapy through a patient's vein. When you're badly dehydrated, doctors may need to infuse you with fluids. The Latin root infusus means "to pour into."
Vocabulary lists containing infuse
"Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare, Act I
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Donald Trump Inauguration Address- January 20, 2017
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"This Is Water" by David Foster Wallace
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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:
“Interiors by Stewart-Gulrajani merge architecture and artistry with exacting precision. Vaulted open-beam ceilings, vast picture windows, and refined finishes infuse each room with air, light, and composure,” the description added.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 8, 2026
I marveled at their energy, which seemed to feed off the audience and then infuse it with even more power.
From Salon ● May 29, 2026
“That was by design — to infuse the club and the community and grow that,” Reynolds said of he and his partner’s aims.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2026
Kraft Heinz’s board signed off on a plan to infuse $600 million into the business, what Cahillane on Wednesday called “dry powder” to be deployed throughout the year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 6, 2026
But somehow I couldn’t infuse my voice with the proper outrage.
From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer
As that climax approaches, Mr. Osborne infuses the languid atmosphere with expertly calibrated tension.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026
“Cats” is still “Cats” — now and forever, as the musical’s iconic slogan warned — but this production infuses the old lion with new vitality.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 5, 2026
A towering performance that is also impressively contoured, Lithgow’s portrayal of dyspeptic British author Roald Dahl infuses Mark Rosenblatt’s drama with chilling mystery.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 5, 2026
Göransson, Coogler’s longtime collaborator, infuses a born-and-bred love and appreciation for the Delta blues into his sweeping melodies.
From Salon ● Dec. 14, 2025
Heaviness infuses my whole body, as if there's liquid lead in my veins.
From "The Hunger Games" by Suzanne Collins
She has infused her suits and dresses with yellow, red, purple, or floral prints, keeping them structured yet light.
From Barron's ● Sep. 26, 2026
Openwheel racing has always had an international flavor, said Rahal Letterman, a driver for Lanigan Racing, who added that the D.C. course has infused the sport with an added patriotism.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026
Derek Mitchell, infused with infectious positivity, is looking to convert a former sugar refinery next to an Aldi car park into a thriving hub that will teach and enthuse young people.
From BBC ● Aug. 21, 2026
But instead of gossiping about who’s dating whom, collaborators batted around their pasts and infused the darkly comedic anthology series with themes of samsara and the Jungian Shadow.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 3, 2026
He found that Scythe Faraday’s moral imperative and ethical high ground infused Rowan with purpose—but only in the scythe’s presence.
From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman
It works by removing a patient’s own immune cells, engineering them in a lab to hunt down and kill malfunctioning cells and then infusing them back into the body.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
For nearly five decades, they served up diner classics like steak and eggs and a hearty stack of pancakes while infusing the meals with touches that showcased their Chinese heritage.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
Attention around Rocket Lab has reached a fever pitch ahead of SpaceX’s public listing, infusing volatility into the shares.
From Barron's ● Jun. 3, 2026
By the time Coppola readied her pivotal first film, “The Virgin Suicides,” Jacobs was crowned the powerhouse creative director of Louis Vuitton, tasked with infusing a stale heritage luxury brand with youthful energy.
From Salon ● Mar. 27, 2026
It thickened the broth instantly, tinting it orange and infusing it with oily richness.
From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
