variants
or less commonly baptise
baptized also baptised; baptizing also baptising
1
religion
: to administer baptism (see baptism sense 1) to
baptize a child in the Episcopal Church
was baptized a Catholic as an infant
2
a
: 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
Sidney Lanier
b
: initiate
Both developments were baptized under last season's conditions of scanty snow …—New York Times
New York Times3
: to give a name to (as at baptism) : christen
They baptized their son "John" after the baby's grandfather.
: to administer baptism
baptizer
noun
Examples of baptize in a Sentence
The priest baptized the baby.
She was baptized at the age of 20.
Recent Examples on the Web
Princess Sofia, 40, popped in a yellow midi dress with a coordinating headband and heels for the church ceremony, where her baby daughter was baptized by Chief Chaplain Bishop Johan Dalman and Ordinary Chaplain Michael Bjerkhagen, pastor of the Royal Court Assembly.
—Janine Henni, People.com, 13 June 2025
The grand basilica where Pope Francis was baptized in Buenos Aires has become a popular stop for tour groups, as well.
—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2025
Such was the prairie fire of conversion in the first years of the twentieth century that by 1910, the year Nelle was baptized, the Disciples had established no fewer than 682 churches in the state of Illinois alone.
—Richard D. Mahoney, JSTOR Daily, 30 Apr. 2025
He’d been baptized there and attended services with his grandparents.
—Randy Mason, Kansas City Star, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for baptize
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Janine Henni, People.com, 13 June 2025
The grand basilica where Pope Francis was baptized in Buenos Aires has become a popular stop for tour groups, as well.
—Caroline Kubzansky, Chicago Tribune, 10 May 2025
Such was the prairie fire of conversion in the first years of the twentieth century that by 1910, the year Nelle was baptized, the Disciples had established no fewer than 682 churches in the state of Illinois alone.
—Richard D. Mahoney, JSTOR Daily, 30 Apr. 2025
He’d been baptized there and attended services with his grandparents.
—Randy Mason, Kansas City Star, 19 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for baptize
Cite this Entry
“Baptize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/baptize. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
baptize
verb
bap·tize
bap-ˈtīz 
ˈbap-ˌtīz
baptized; baptizing
1
: to dip in water or sprinkle water on as a part of the ceremony of receiving into the Christian church
2
a
: to make pure in spirit (as by a painful experience)
3
: to give a name to (as in the ceremony of baptism) : christen
baptizer
noun
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