imbibe

verb

im·​bibe im-ˈbīb 

imbibed; imbibing

transitive verb

1

a

formal + often humorous : drink

imbibing large amounts of coffee/wine

b

: to take in or up

a sponge imbibes moisture

2

a

: to receive into the mind and retain

imbibe moral principles

b

: to assimilate or take into solution

3

archaic : soak, steep

intransitive verb

1

formal + often humorous : drink sense 2

He no longer imbibes, but doesn't mind if others do.

2

a

: to take in liquid

b

: to absorb or assimilate moisture, gas, light, or heat

imbiber noun

Synonyms of imbibe

• drink
• sip
• gulp

Examples of imbibe in a Sentence

She imbibed vast quantities of coffee.

She never imbibes but isn't offended when others do.

Recent Examples on the Web

There is, however, such a reality as too much of a good thing, even for those who imbibe in the saloon of others’ misfortune. —Blake Toppmeyer, USA TODAY, 9 Oct. 2025

And what better excuse to get dressed up than to indulge and imbibe in a new dining experience? —Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 17 Sep. 2025

Then just pour yourself onto the couch to imbibe in the campiest of catfights that are custom-made for laughing and yelling at as the misdeeds unspool onscreen. —Randy Myers, Mercury News, 12 Sep. 2025

The party really got cooking with the arrival of Iovine’s megawatt music pals, including Dre, plus Benny Blanco, Swizz Beats, will.i.am, all imbibing Gin & Juice. —Merle Ginsberg, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English enbiben to absorb, cause to absorb, from Latin imbibere to drink in, absorb, from in- + bibere to drink — more at potable

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

Rhymes for imbibe

• ascribe
• describe
• inscribe
• prescribe
• proscribe
• subscribe
• transcribe
• bribe
• gibe
• jibe
• tribe
• vibe

Kids Definition

imbibe

verb

im·​bibe im-ˈbīb 

imbibed; imbibing

1

: to receive into the mind and retain

imbibe knowledge

2

a

: drink entry 1 sense 1a

b

: absorb sense 1

imbiber noun