1
as in sipping
to swallow in liquid form
the doctor wants her to drink lots of water before the examination
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in boozing
to partake excessively of alcoholic beverages
we're worried that she's started drinking again
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in absorbing
to take in (something liquid) through small openings
the hot surface of the porous rock drank water like a sponge
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of drinking
Consider drinking herbal tea, taking a hot shower, or reading before bed.
—
Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 17 Sep. 2025
According to experts and research, there can be both pros and cons to drinking orange juice on an empty stomach.
—Sarah Garone, Health, 17 Sep. 2025
On Christmas, Belly and her friend Benito grow closer, and then spend the holiday together drinking at the bar and riding through the city.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
After the documentary premiered in September 2025, Sami shared a video on TikTok showing her emotional reaction to Charlie revealing that missing out on a father/daughter day out with her in her early teen years is what inspired him to stop drinking.
—Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
Anyone who’s drinking hot pumpkin spice lattes in a chunky sweater may need to rein it in for a little while.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
Sheen and Peele were on a plane and tensions were already high between the two — while Sheen started drinking heavily in his seat.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 10 Sep. 2025
Plus, coffee drinkers’ palates and expectations have been shaped by decades of drinking arabica.
—Alex Mayyasi, Saveur, 10 Sep. 2025
There is a large group of armed guards drinking tea and letting cars in.
—Hadeel Al-Shalchi, NPR, 25 Jan. 2025
Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 17 Sep. 2025
According to experts and research, there can be both pros and cons to drinking orange juice on an empty stomach.
—Sarah Garone, Health, 17 Sep. 2025
On Christmas, Belly and her friend Benito grow closer, and then spend the holiday together drinking at the bar and riding through the city.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
After the documentary premiered in September 2025, Sami shared a video on TikTok showing her emotional reaction to Charlie revealing that missing out on a father/daughter day out with her in her early teen years is what inspired him to stop drinking.
—Rebecca Aizin, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
Anyone who’s drinking hot pumpkin spice lattes in a chunky sweater may need to rein it in for a little while.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 11 Sep. 2025
Sheen and Peele were on a plane and tensions were already high between the two — while Sheen started drinking heavily in his seat.
—Michael Schneider, Variety, 10 Sep. 2025
Plus, coffee drinkers’ palates and expectations have been shaped by decades of drinking arabica.
—Alex Mayyasi, Saveur, 10 Sep. 2025
There is a large group of armed guards drinking tea and letting cars in.
—Hadeel Al-Shalchi, NPR, 25 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drinking
Verb
-
She was seen sipping a glass of red wine at her birthday dinner party and blowing out the candles on her birthday cake.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Adults can stroll the grounds sipping beer and wine, which are sold on site.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
At the same time, unlike other artists of the bro-country ilk, Aldean personally refrained from boozing it up throughout the show, waiting to pull out a red Solo cup with a shot of tequila in it until there were just 11 minutes left in a set that ran 97.—
Theoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Peru will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
-
The 12-story building, which is lined with tinted heat-absorbing glass windows, was built between 1953 and 1956.—
Jamie L. LaReau,
USA Today,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
One night Icarius got all his friends together for a wine-tasting party that quickly got out of hand and turned into a wine-gulping party.—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
7 Sep. 2025
-
The pressure is always on the taker, the player standing, gulping, trying desperately not to unload their lunch onto the turf, preparing to do something theoretically simple — kick the ball into the net from 12 yards with only one opponent able to stop them.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Accidentally swallowing an apple seed—or even a few apple seeds—is unlikely to be dangerous.—
Heidi Moawad,
Verywell Health,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Your throat could be sore or painful while swallowing for a number of reasons.—
Hannah Yasharoff,
USA Today,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Millennials and Gen Xers saw a 14-point fall in the last year alone, with just 56 percent of them now imbibing.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
15 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Drinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drinking. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share