partake
Americanverb (used without object)
-
to take or have a part or share along with others; participate (usually followed byin ).
He won't partake in the victory celebration.
-
to receive, take, or have a share or portion (usually followed byof ).
to partake of a meal.
-
to have something of the nature or character (usually followed byof ).
feelings partaking of both joy and regret.
verb (used with object)
verb
-
(foll by in) to have a share; participate
to partake in the excitement
-
(foll by of) to take or receive a portion, esp of food or drink
each partook of the food offered to him
-
(foll by of) to suggest or have some of the quality (of)
music partaking of sadness
-
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
-
partakernoun
-
prepartakeverb (used without object)
-
partakableadjective
-
unpartakenadjective
-
unpartakingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
partakesimple
-
partakessimple
-
have partakenperfect
-
has partakenperfect
-
am partakingprogressive
-
are partakingprogressive
-
is partakingprogressive
-
have been partakingperfect progressive
-
has been partakingperfect progressive
Past
-
partooksimple
-
had partakenperfect
-
was partakingprogressive
-
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Wuthering Heights" by Emily Bronte, Chapters 1–5
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Mythology
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
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
And like Cretton, I partake in something that is more of a performance than a conversation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2026
He doesn’t partake in alcohol, coffee, or cigarettes, so it’s not like he has something else to provide a pick-me-up.
From Slate ● Jun. 11, 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
Others departed to watch over children so their parents could partake of the pleasant evening.
From "The Underground Railroad: A Novel" by Colson Whitehead
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
Iverson wants these moments for other people, even though he no longer partakes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 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
If I may be allowed the metaphor, one partakes of the nature of redemptive power; the other of that self-abased and degenerate will, which “flung from his splendours” the fairest star in heaven.
From Tennyson and His Friends by Various
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
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
Some already experienced Kraken training camp a year ago while all partook in the July development camp.
From Seattle Times ● Sep. 17, 2023
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
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
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
What if I had not just partaken of the free wine and cheese and instead hobnobbed and made connections like I was supposed to?
From New York Times ● Nov. 23, 2018
Or they might have partaken of his pork cooked in the style of ancient Rome, with apricots, raisins, wine and honey.
From Washington Post ● Jun. 27, 2017
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
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
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
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
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.
