imbue

verb

im·bue | \ im-ˈbyü

imbued; imbuing

Definition of imbue

transitive verb

1 : endow sense 3 Spanish missions imbue the city with Old World charm— Scott Pendleton

2 : to permeate or influence as if by dyeing the spirit that imbues the new constitution

3 : to tinge or dye deeply

Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Imbue Has Old French Roots More Example Sentences Learn More about imbue

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Choose the Right Synonym for 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 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."

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 on the Web

Whatever spirit was imbued in those cemetery crosses had to be ever vigilant. — Margot Dougherty, WSJ, "In Ireland, a Getaway Far, Far Away," 6 Nov. 2018 The practicality of the split isn't going to stop tabloid culture from imbuing this news with darker meaning, but according to Arbiter there is no bitter significance. — Caroline Hallemann, Town & Country, "What It Really Means that Prince Harry and Prince William's Royal Households Are Splitting," 15 Mar. 2019 McCarthy was the mentee of the blustery John Fairchild, who is said to have treated him like a son and who imbued in his colleague the fighting spirit of the old-fashioned newsroom. — Vogue, "Fairchild Chairman and Editor Patrick McCarthy Is Dead at 67," 26 Feb. 2019 Rihanna’s ability to imbue her very essence into a fashion collection and a presentation is her great gift. — Steff Yotka, Vogue, "Rihanna, Celine, and That Versace Deal—The 10 Biggest Stories of the Spring 2019 Season," 5 Oct. 2018 The photographer’s careful attention imbues them with interest. — William Meyers, WSJ, "‘New Territory: Landscape Photography Today’ and ‘New Topographics” Review: The Lay of the Photographic Land," 17 July 2018 The daughter of Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman comes out swinging in her debut role, imbuing Jo with a quiet energy and a desperation for something more than her small life. — Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY, "Review: PBS's 'Little Women' is a warm bath of lightness and love," 11 May 2018 Sherman's swagger imbued personality to the group, while his ranginess, receiver's hands and size (6-3, 195) made quarterbacks leery of targeting him. — Nate Davis, USA TODAY, "As Seahawks' Legion of Boom disbands, is it time to anoint it NFL's greatest secondary?," 3 July 2018 The hat and accessories designer has a way with sleek lines and imbuing her collections with just the right amount of edge. — Kerry Pieri, Harper's BAZAAR, "Two Of Our Favorite Brands Join Forces for Some Very Chic Hats," 12 Oct. 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.