baptize

verb

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bap·tize | \ bap-ˈtīz

, ˈbap-ˌtīz, especially Southern bab-ˈtīz or ˈbab-ˌtīz \

variants: or less commonly baptise

baptized also baptised; baptizing also baptising

Definition of baptize

transitive verb

1 religion : to administer baptism (see baptism sense 1) to baptize a child in the Episcopal Church was baptized a Catholic as an infant

2a : to purify or cleanse spiritually especially by a purging (see purge entry 1 sense 1) experience or ordeal … baptized with pain and rapture, tears and fire …— Sidney Lanier

b : initiate Both developments were baptized under last season's conditions of scanty snow … — New York Times

3 : to give a name to (as at baptism) : christen Theybaptized their son "John" after the baby's grandfather.

intransitive verb

: to administer baptism

Other Words from baptize Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More About baptize

Examples of baptize in a Sentence

The priest baptized the baby. She was baptized at the age of 20.

Recent Examples on the Web Karen and Michael Hidde watched the flight nurse baptize their baby, sprinkling water on him from a small shell. — Mark Johnson, jsonline.com, 29 Apr. 2022 Only priests could baptize, ordain, perform the sacrament of the Eucharist and give last rites. — Lisa Bitel, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Mar. 2022 Fans are dissecting the hallucination—which saw Nate impregnate Cassie and then watch as a pool-side Cal Jacobs, his father, proceeded to erotically baptize her. — Josh St. Clair, Men's Health, 19 Jan. 2022 James reacted by putting his fingers in Max’s water and splashing him as if to baptize him into James’s unique religion of belligerent assholery. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 30 Sep. 2021 The woman said Hogan swam over to her and offered to baptize her children. — al, 28 July 2021 The woman said Hogan swam over to her and offered to baptize her children. — al, 28 July 2021 The woman said Hogan swam over to her and offered to baptize her children. — al, 28 July 2021 The woman said Hogan swam over to her and offered to baptize her children. — al, 28 July 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'baptize.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.