partake

American  

[pahr-tayk] / pɑrˈteɪk /

verb (used without object)

• partakes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• partook,
  past
• partaken,
  past participle
• partaking
  present participle

1. to take or have a part or share along with others; participate (usually followed byin ).

   He won't partake in the victory celebration.

2. to receive, take, or have a share or portion (usually followed byof ).

   to partake of a meal.

3. to have something of the nature or character (usually followed byof ).

   feelings partaking of both joy and regret.

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verb (used with object)

• partakes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• partook,
  past
• partaken,
  past participle
• partaking
  present participle

1. to take or have a part in; share.

partake British  

/ pɑːˈteɪk /

verb

1. (foll by in) to have a share; participate

   to partake in the excitement

2. (foll by of) to take or receive a portion, esp of food or drink

   each partook of the food offered to him

3. (foll by of) to suggest or have some of the quality (of)

   music partaking of sadness

4. archaic (tr) to share in

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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

• partaker
  noun
• prepartake
  verb (used without object)
• partakable
  adjective
• unpartaken
  adjective
• unpartaking
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• partaking
  present
• partaken
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• partake
  simple
• partakes
  simple
• have partaken
  perfect
• has partaken
  perfect
• am partaking
  progressive
• are partaking
  progressive
• is partaking
  progressive
• have been partaking
  perfect progressive
• has been partaking
  perfect progressive

Past

• partook
  simple
• had partaken
  perfect
• was partaking
  progressive
• were partaking
  progressive
• had been partaking
  perfect progressive

Future

• will partake
  simple
• will have partaken
  perfect
• will be partaking
  progressive
• will have been partaking
  perfect progressive

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

partake partakes partook partaken partaking

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

“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

West Virginia adopted the nation’s first program to make those funds universally available in 2021 and today, 18 states are inviting any student to partake, regardless of family income or existing private school enrollment.

From Salon ● Jul. 27, 2026

The legend says that the practice brings good fortune and a return visit to those who partake in it, but it had also resulted in a small crater forming on the spot.

From BBC ● Jun. 1, 2026

Now they came by not only to dine and partake of the arts — of which there were fewer in evidence all the time—but rather to tour the facilities and pronounce upon progress.

From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume I: The Pox Party" by M.T. Anderson

Eventually, it becomes clear that this quaint legal loophole — in which James, of course, partakes — has given rise to a subculture of amorality among a small group of tourists.

From Washington Post ● Jan. 25, 2023

“Unleashed” partakes in some of these themes and transformations, though their engine is a multivalent form of grief.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 31, 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

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

Although the gaseous atmospheric envelope of the planet partakes of this general rotatory motion under the influence of the incepting fields, the latter have apparently no action upon it.

From The Energy System of Matter A Deduction from Terrestrial Energy Phenomena by James Weir

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

On Thursday, Eberle partook in perhaps his final Kraken practice.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 7, 2024

When asked by Henley to return his stolen property, the defendants failed to comply and instead, partook in a lengthy campaign to prevent Henley from recovering the notes.

From Salon ● Feb. 21, 2024

In 2019 he received widespread attention after he partook in the annual Bastille Day parade in Paris, when he flew above the military display on his futuristic jetpack.

From BBC ● May 29, 2022

The horse partook of the jockey’s cunning; the jockey partook of the horse’s supreme power.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand

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

It’ll provide him a chance to enjoy a perk that he’s rarely partaken in since winning the Masters.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 5, 2022

The thing is, I had not, until recently, partaken in this magical quartet in one of their more obvious, beloved iterations: spaghetti carbonara.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 23, 2022

Those who have been to a festival in the last three decades, be it Coachella, Stagecoach, Bonnaroo or Woodstock ’99, have partaken in festival seating.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2021

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

They’re styling their homes with pumpkin decor and cozy blankets, showing off fall outfits and partaking in fall drink menus at coffee shops.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

The recent fourth season of “Mormon Wives” revisits the crossover, with some of the women’s spouses partaking in their own “Villa” getaway that fuels more drama.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 19, 2026

Unbeknownst to us, we were also partaking in a sort of quiet rebellion, indulging in something that’s not neatly defined as cold-weather cuisine.

From Salon ● Feb. 7, 2026

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

Traveling creatures, migratory birds, wandering foxes, rambling squirrels and garrulous hares—they all stopped and chatted with the old mouse, partaking of his hospitality, never dreaming of hurting him in any way.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques