soaks; soaked; soaking
1
a
: to put (something) in a liquid for a period of time
Soak the beans overnight (in water).
He soaked his feet (in a tub of warm water).
You should soak those dirty clothes before you wash them.
The cucumbers are soaked [=marinated] in vinegar.
The beans soaked in water overnight.
b
: to take a long bath
He relaxed and soaked in the tub.
c
: to make (someone or something) very wet with water or another liquid
After planting the seeds, soak the soil.
She soaked the dog with the hose.
His shirt was soaked with sweat.
I was/got soaked by the rain.
My shirt and pants were soaked through [=made completely wet] by the rain.
I was soaked to the skin [=made completely wet] within minutes.
2
of a liquid
: to enter or pass through or into something
The oil soaked into the wood.
Sweat soaked through his shirt.
Rain soaked through her jacket.
Blood soaked through the bandage.
3
informal
: to make (someone) pay a lot of money for something
People are getting soaked by city taxes.
They're soaking their customers by charging high fees for routine services.
1
: an act of letting something stay in a liquid for a long time in order to soften or clean it
This shirt needs a good soak [=needs to be soaked] to get out the stains.
2
informal
: a long bath
I had a long, hot soak in the tub.
Cite this Entry
“Soak.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/soak. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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