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

Keep scrolling for more

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

Opponents respond that a wealth tax, like any plan to soak the rich, would crush the country’s entrepreneurial spirit. — The Economist, "Rich people’s problems," 6 July 2019 This will improve permeability, allowing more rainwater to soak into the ground, rather than running off. — Daniel Bortz, Washington Post, "The pros and cons of 6 driveway materials," 3 July 2019 Activities include a wave pool, triple-flume water slide, children's water play park, a 990-foot lazy river, picnic pavilions and seating to soak up the sun. — Dajheonna Perry, Detroit Free Press, "5 water parks, splash pads, pools to try in metro Detroit," 3 July 2019 The Start of Forever The couple have a honeymoon planned for the fall or winter but stayed in Provence after the weekend to soak up some time with their families. — Adam Carlson, PEOPLE.com, "All the Photos and Details (and Olympic Guests!) from Skater Meryl Davis’ ‘Magical’ French Wedding," 29 June 2019 Unfortunately you will be called to soak up the craziest emotions this summer because those around are losing their minds. — Sonja Marie, Essence, "Everyone Wants Your Good Stuff, Cancer! Your Summer Vibe 2019 Horoscopes Are Here," 28 June 2019 When and where rattlesnakes are active: As cold-blooded reptiles, rattlesnakes often emerge after cool nights to the warming service roads and trails at parks to soak in the heat. — Tom Stienstra, SFChronicle.com, "Rattlesnake season is here. Be prepared.," 28 June 2019 Summer’s a time to soak up the sun—and for the mosquitoes to eat you alive! — Maggie O'neill, Health.com, "How to Get Rid of Mosquito Bites, According to an Expert," 21 June 2019 About 300,000 spectators are expected to descend on the famous track this week, to soak up the history, buzz, world-class horse racing and spectacular setting. — Ben Church, CNN, "Royal Ascot: A day in the life," 19 June 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The Starlight at the Bathhouse package offers an after-hours soak and steam retreat, plus sparkling wine and dessert. — Amber Turpin, The Mercury News, "Napa Valley weekend: Calistoga wining, dining and spas," 29 June 2019 Those who love the out-of-doors can find free opportunities for an al fresco soak in thermal springs throughout the countryside. — Rick Steves, USA TODAY, "Geothermal baths and beyond: Rick Steves' guide to Iceland's steamiest sites," 25 June 2019 Most travelers pair a trip to Ala-Kul with a post-hike soak in the nearby hot springs in the valley of Altyn Arashan. — Kay Rodriguez, National Geographic, "8 wild and beautiful places in Kyrgyzstan," 27 Mar. 2019 In addition to their soaps, Biggs & Featherbelle also produces bath fizzies, soaks, body scrubs, shea butters, lip balm and more. — Christine Condon, baltimoresun.com, "Sisters, entrepreneurs expand body care business to new home in Howard County," 11 June 2019 Let the fish soak in the brine for 20 minutes, then rinse and pat dry. — Bibby Gignilliat, The Mercury News, "Quick Cook: Herb, Garlic and Lemon Halibut," 8 June 2019 This no-soak treatment also works well for turquoise and opals (which are also porous stones). — Lauren Smith, Good Housekeeping, "How to Clean Your Jewelry Like a Pro," 7 May 2019 My weekend experiment resulted in a perfectly shiny manicure that looked anything but fake, yet came off instantly with a two-minute soak in warm water on Sunday evening. — Jenna Rennert, Vogue, "The 5-Minute Manicure That Counts Fans From Jennifer Lopez to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez," 29 Mar. 2019 The user sits upright in the tub for a deep soak (like a hot tub) and can watch TV or have a beverage while soaking. — Ed Del Grande, The Seattle Times, "Explore the depths of comfort with a cube tub," 19 Feb. 2019

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.

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about soak

Dictionary Entries near soak

Statistics for soak

Last Updated

7 Jul 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for soak

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

See more words from the same century

Keep scrolling for more

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