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

Losses can be used to soak up realized capital gains on a dollar-for-dollar basis, Mr. Kess says. — Tom Herman, WSJ, "The Smart Ways to Be a Tax-Savvy Investor," 10 Feb. 2019 This includes things like a weakening of the ocean’s ability to soak up CO2 from the atmosphere, global plant growth lowered by warming in the tropics, and a reduction of the amount of carbon bound up in soils. — Scott K. Johnson, Ars Technica, "The economic impacts of climate change could limit climate change," 19 Dec. 2018 Offering six reclining seats accompanied by large windows to soak up the sights of going to the edge of space, the New Shepard will provide its riders with a few minutes’ worth of weightlessness and a view of the curvature of the Earth. — Vlad Savov, The Verge, "A ticket on Jeff Bezos’ space tourism rocket will cost at least $200,000," 13 July 2018 But fans from the other 28 countries, such as Axel, have stayed on long after their team’s defeat, to soak up the carnivalesque atmosphere and maximize time with newfound loves. — Amie Ferris-rotman, Washington Post, "At World Cup, Russians embrace the world, one relationship at a time," 9 July 2018 Looking to soak up pressure and counter attack, the hosts defended very deep after the break. — SI.com, "Russia 2-2 Croatia (3-4 Pens): Heartbreak for Hosts as Croatia Secure Last 4 Clash Against England," 7 July 2018 But the texture hooked me, as did the understanding at that young age that eggplant was a kind of sponge, able to soak up an outsize amount of flavor. — Evan Kleiman, latimes.com, "Cucina Italiana: The joy of eggplant. Try making a timbale," 5 July 2018 Toss with about ½ cup of vinaigrette, making sure to combine thoroughly so the rusks begin to soak up the vinaigrette. — Sarah Fritsche, SFChronicle.com, "Recipe: Tawla’s Fattoush," 3 July 2018 Wearing his cap backward accompanied by a big smile, Machado seemed to soak up the moment and teammate Adam Jones even brought out the Machado’s salsa that came out that year as a between-swing snack. — Eduardo A. Encina, baltimoresun.com, "Orioles' Machado prefers to be spectator than participant in Home Run Derby," 30 June 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Anyone who doubts this should remember another soak-the-rich scheme, the luxury tax of the George H.W. Bush presidency. — WSJ, "Soaking the Rich, Sinking the Yacht Builders," 11 Feb. 2019 Round out the day with a relaxing soak in the Elkhorn Hot Springs nearby. — Todd Plummer, Vogue, "Bozeman, Butte, Big Sky, and Back: The Ultimate Southwest Montana Road Trip," 31 Aug. 2018 A half-hour soak is also a weekly tradition for Zina Sejdic. — Terri Akman, Philly.com, "Everyone is doing it: Indulgent baths now the antidote to a packed schedule," 5 Apr. 2018 The film became more than a form of catharsis but actual rejuvenation, the kind people typically receive from exercise, face masks, or a long soak in the tub. — Christopher Rosa, Glamour, "Spending $100 to See A Star Is Born 8 Times Is My Self-Care," 11 Jan. 2019 Then, simply allow them to soak and then launder as usual; the long soak will coax out stubborn stains. — Jolie Kerr, Town & Country, "How to Clean Table Linens," 10 Feb. 2017 When you’re done soaking up the view, feel free to take a soak in the hot tub room located on the lower level, or maybe stroll on over to the barn which doubles as a garage and a potting shed. — Alex Bazeley, Curbed, "1790 country house blending modern and rustic charm asks $800K," 16 July 2018 Water weekly to establish and then deep soak once a month once well established. — Earl Nickel, San Francisco Chronicle, "Evergreen dogwood: Some bark and lots of blooms," 18 May 2018 After a delicious meal, go for a soak in the rooftop Jacuzzi. — Susannah Rigg, Condé Nast Traveler, "19 Best Boutique Hotels in Mexico City," 27 Feb. 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

17 Mar 2019

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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

informal : 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