soak

verb

\ˈsōk

soaked; soaking; soaks

Definition of soak

(Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

1 : to lie immersed in liquid (such as water) : become saturated by or as if by immersion

2a : to enter or pass through something by or as if by pores or interstices : permeate

b : to penetrate or affect the mind or feelings —usually used with in or into

3 : to drink alcoholic beverages intemperately

transitive verb

1 : to permeate so as to wet, soften, or fill thoroughly

2 : to place in a surrounding element (such as liquid) to wet or permeate thoroughly

3 : to extract by or as if by steeping soak the dirt out

4a : to draw or take in by or as if by suction or absorption soaked up the sunshine

b : to intoxicate (oneself) by drinking alcoholic beverages

5 : to cause to pay an exorbitant amount

soak

noun

Definition of soak (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : the act or process of soaking : the state of being soaked

b : the liquid in which something is soaked

2 : drunkard

3 slang : pawn entry 2 sense 2

Other Words from soak Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about soak

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Choose the Right Synonym for soak

Verb

soak, saturate, drench, steep, impregnate mean to permeate or be permeated with a liquid. soak implies usually prolonged immersion as for softening or cleansing. soak the garment in soapy water saturate implies a resulting effect of complete absorption until no more liquid can be held. a saturated sponge drench implies a thorough wetting by something that pours down or is poured. clothes drenched by a cloudburst steep suggests either the extraction of an essence (as of tea leaves) by the liquid or the imparting of a quality (such as a color) to the thing immersed. steep the tea for five minutes impregnate implies a thorough interpenetration of one thing by another. a cake strongly impregnated with brandy

Examples of soak in a Sentence

Verb

You should soak those dirty clothes before you wash them. The beans soaked in water overnight. He relaxed and soaked in the tub. After planting the seeds, soak the soil. She soaked the dog with the hose. His shirt was soaked with sweat. I was soaked by the rain. The oil soaked into the wood. Sweat soaked through his shirt. Rain soaked through her jacket.

Noun

I had a long, hot soak in the tub. felt sorry for the town soak, who couldn't hold a job

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

The fear of getting soaked — and disqualified — has driven many seniors into seclusion. — Dugan Arnett, BostonGlobe.com, "Shopper’s delight: Unique boutiques and bargain browsing, all with no tax," 15 May 2018 One, at 103 degrees Fahrenheit, is ideal for soaking. — Jill K. Robinson, San Francisco Chronicle, "Top 10 California parks: Little known wonders," 9 May 2018 Body-conscious Jordan, who hides his flesh in a polo shirt, memorizes every ripple in Will’s torso while envying the cement for soaking up the water dripping off his body. — Charles Mcnulty, latimes.com, "Say 'I do' to 'Significant Other,' the rare romantic comedy with depth to match the laughs," 13 Apr. 2018 Regardless of which entree one chooses, a bed of rice is standard on the plate — the traditional vehicle for soaking up the delicious sauces. — Lindsey Mcclave, The Courier-Journal, "Try one of these top 13 best-reviewed Louisville restaurants of 2018," 15 June 2018 The judges also knocked Avery for not soaking her tres leches cake more. — Tracy Swartz, chicagotribune.com, "Did Pilsen contestant win 'MasterChef Junior' Season 6?," 18 May 2018 The idea came about after Paralympic athlete Chloe Ball-Hopkins, who uses a wheelchair, became soaked in the rain at a music festival and subsequently sent an email to Asos about creating a product that would fit wheelchair users. — Marina Liao, Marie Claire, "ASOS Launched a Wheelchair-Friendly Jumpsuit and the Internet Is All About It," 6 July 2018 The sand is pristine and the cliffs are tall here, so soak up a little seclusion just 13 miles south of downtown Half Moon Bay. — SFChronicle.com, "5 hidden beaches around Half Moon Bay," 12 July 2018 If Medjool dates are hard, soak for 3-5 mins in hot water. — Health.com, "These Vanilla Cupcakes Are Made With Cauliflower—and You’d Never Know It," 10 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

This date, complete with a soak in a hot tub after their camel ride, was quite steamy but also predictable. — Lisa Bonos, chicagotribune.com, "On 'The Bachelorette,' Jordan the villain goes home but insecure Chris gets to stay," 26 June 2018 Skin and body-care brand Papa & Barkley also creates THC and CBD formulated balms, bath soaks, and tension-relief patches. — Samantha Sasso, refinery29.com, "Could CBD Be The Answer To Summer's Worst Side Effect?," 30 June 2018 Some salons will use vinegar for a pre-mani soak, but that’s also a no-go, according to editorial nail artist Honey, who explains that the acid in vinegar could make your nails brittle. — Janell M. Hickman, SELF, "9 Ways to Not Ruin Your At-Home Manicure," 29 June 2018 The rogue bear enjoyed his soak last Friday, according to the Associated Press. — Ashley Hoffman, Time, "The Bear Drinking a Margarita in a Hot Tub Is Your Summer 2018 Hero," 3 July 2018 After short soak, the bear climbed out of the tub and knocked over a margarita before taking a few cheeky sips. — Gabriella Paiella, The Cut, "I Freaking Love This Margarita-Drinking Hot-Tub Bear," 3 July 2018 First, Jessie B preps her pubes with a trim, followed by a soak in the bath to soften up the hair follicles. — Leah Prinzivalli, Allure, "Beauty Vlogger Jessie B Uses Olive Oil to Shave Her Bikini Line, But Is It Safe?," 12 June 2018 Return to Chamonix for a soak and a sauna in the hotel spa. — Jack Dancy, Town & Country, "How to Plan a Trip to Europe," 5 Oct. 2016 Plus, the bath bomb is made of invigorating pine, sea salt, and sandalwood for a fresh and natural-smelling soak. — Shannon Barbour, The Cut, "Attention John Mayer: There’s a New Bath Bomb," 20 June 2018

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

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Last Updated

10 Nov 2018

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Time Traveler for soak

The first known use of soak was before the 12th century

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More Definitions for soak

soak

verb

English Language Learners Definition of soak

(Entry 1 of 2)

: to put (something) in a liquid for a period of time

: to take a long bath

: to make (someone or something) very wet with water or another liquid

soak

noun

English Language Learners Definition of soak (Entry 2 of 2)

: an act of letting something stay in a liquid for a long time in order to soften or clean it

: a long bath

See the full definition for soak in the English Language Learners Dictionary

soak

verb

\ˈsōk

soaked; soaking

Kids Definition of soak

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : to lie covered with liquid He soaked in the tub.

2 : to place in a liquid to wet or as if to wet thoroughly Soak the beans in water.

3 : to make very wet The rain soaked us.

4 : to enter or pass through something by or as if by tiny holes : permeate The water soaked into the ground.

5 : to draw in by or as if by absorption The rag soaked up the spill. She soaked up the sunshine.

soak

noun

Kids Definition of soak (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : the act or process of letting something stay in a liquid for a long time to soften or clean it

2 : a long bath

soak

noun

\ˈsōk

Medical Definition of soak

: an often hot medicated solution with which a body part is soaked usually long or repeatedly especially to promote healing, relieve pain, or stimulate local circulation