imbue

verb im·bue \ im-ˈbyü \

Updated on: 18 May 2018

Definition of imbue

imbued; imbuing

transitive verb

1 : to permeate or influence as if by dyeing

the spirit that imbues the new constitution

2 : to tinge or dye deeply

3 : endow 3

Spanish missions imbue the city with Old World charm
—Scott Pendleton

See imbue defined for English-language learners

See imbue defined for kids

imbue was our Word of the Day on 10/25/2016. Hear the podcast!

Examples of imbue in a Sentence

A feeling of optimism imbues her works.
her training at the school for the deaf imbued her with a sense of purpose that she had never known before

Recent Examples of imbue from the Web

The sparse, deadpan prose imbues these scenes with extraordinary intensity.

— The Economist, "In times of crisis, writers turn to Homer," 26 Apr. 2018
While his nasally gravel bears some similarities to his famous dad, Lukas imbues the song with his own nuances, powerful vocal trills, and a bluesy guitar jam.

— Southern Living, "Watch Willie Nelson's Son Perform "Funny How Time Slips Away"," 19 Apr. 2018
Millions of people pledging unconditional devotion to any business threatens to imbue it with monopoly power.

— derek thompson, The Atlantic, "In Praise of Fair-Weather Fandom," 16 Apr. 2018
Angles and framing and context can imbue an image with a meaning it isn't meant to have.

— carolina a. miranda, latimes.com, "How images — sometimes manipulated and altered — are shaping the seething world of our politics," 13 Apr. 2018
Some horror movies imbue a seemingly harmless place or object with newfound danger.

— adi robertson, The Verge, "A Quiet Place blends horror and drama in a silent world," 5 Apr. 2018
The promise that President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital last month would be turned into bricks and mortar imbued the vice president’s visit with more than symbolic value.

— isabel kershner, New York Times, "Pence Visit Was a Balm to Israelis. Now Back to Reality.," 23 Jan. 2018
Somehow, this imbues him with confidence, not pressure.

— jon wertheim, SI.com, "Mailbag: Appreciating Rafael Nadal's Jaw-Dropping Brilliance on Clay," 25 Apr. 2018
For many fans, that timing imbued the mural with an almost mystical aura.

— scott ostler, San Francisco Chronicle, "In San Antonio, the Spurs are like family," 21 Apr. 2018

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

imbue Has Old French Roots

Like its synonym infuse, imbue implies the introduction of one thing into another so as to affect it throughout. A nation can be imbued with pride, for example, or a photograph might be imbued with a sense of melancholy. In the past imbue has also been used synonymously with imbrue, an obscure word meaning "to drench or stain," but etymologists do not think the two words are related. Imbue derives from the Latin verb imbuere, meaning "to dye, wet, or moisten." Imbrue has been traced back through Anglo-French and Old French to the Latin verb bibere, meaning "to drink."

Origin and Etymology of imbue

Latin imbuere

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1555

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

imbue Synonyms

Synonyms

endue (or indue), inculcate, infuse, ingrain (also engrain), inoculate, invest, steep, suffuse;

Near Antonyms

deprive, divest, strip;

clear, empty;

eliminate, remove, take away;

implant, instill, plant;

impregnate, permeate, pervade, saturate;

deluge, drown, fill, flood, inundate, overwhelm, submerge;

Synonym Discussion of imbue

infuse, suffuse, imbue, ingrain, inoculate, leaven mean to introduce one thing into another so as to affect it throughout. infuse implies a pouring in of something that gives new life or significance.

- new members infused enthusiasm into the club

suffuse implies a spreading through of something that gives an unusual color or quality.

- a room suffused with light

imbue implies the introduction of a quality that fills and permeates the whole being.

- imbue students with intellectual curiosity

ingrain, used only in the passive or past participle, suggests the deep implanting of a quality or trait.

- clung to ingrained habits

inoculate implies an imbuing or implanting with a germinal idea and often suggests stealth or subtlety.

- an electorate inoculated with dangerous ideas

leaven implies introducing something that enlivens, tempers, or markedly alters the total quality.

- a serious play leavened with comic moments

IMBUE Defined for English Language Learners

imbue

verb

Definition of imbue for English Language Learners

: to cause (someone or something) to be deeply affected by a feeling or to have a certain quality

Learn More about imbue

See words that rhyme with imbue Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for imbue Spanish Central: Translation of imbue Nglish: Translation of imbue for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of imbue for Arabic speakers

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imbue

Definition of imbue

imbue was our Word of the Day on 10/25/2016. Hear the podcast!

Examples of imbue in a Sentence

Recent Examples of imbue from the Web

imbue Has Old French Roots

Origin and Etymology of imbue

imbue Synonyms

Synonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Synonym Discussion of imbue

IMBUE Defined for English Language Learners

imbue

Definition of imbue for English Language Learners

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