ingrain

verb

in·​grain (ˌ)in-ˈgrān 

variants or less commonly engrain

ingrained also engrained; ingraining also engraining; ingrains also engrains

transitive verb

: to work indelibly into the natural texture or mental or moral constitution

Synonyms of ingrain

• suffuse
• inculcate
• infuse
• inoculate
• imbue
• invest
• fill

Choose the Right Synonym for ingrain

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

Examples of ingrain in a Sentence

the journalism professor has long ingrained his students with a deep respect for their chosen profession

the third-world privation he had witnessed forever ingrained itself upon the young doctor's memory

Recent Examples on the Web

The sport is deeply ingrained in everyday life, from the favelas to the beaches to the Maracana Stadium. —Michelle Kaufman may 29, Miami Herald, 29 May 2026

Once this is ingrained in their minds, the magnitude of opportunities is present in every local community and economy to benefit bi-directionally. —Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026

Football is deeply ingrained in Brazilian culture and part of the challenge was capturing the mood of the country at the time, Paulo Morelli says. —Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 27 May 2026

But aside from that, a lot of stuff will remain the same, including the pain and joy of Oakland’s sports drama, psychically ingrained in the walls. —John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 26 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1641, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ingrain

• abstain
• airplane
• alkane
• arcane
• arraign
• attain
• backplane
• betaine
• biplane
• blockchain
• butane
• campaign

Kids Definition

ingrain

1 of 2 verb

in·​grain (ˈ)in-ˈgrān 

: to work deeply into the texture of something or into the mental or moral nature of someone

ingrain young children with responsibility

ingrain

2 of 2 adjective

in·​grain ˈin-ˌgrān 

1

: made of fiber that is dyed before being spun into yarn

2

: made of yarn that is dyed before being woven or knitted

ingrain carpet