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.
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Recent Examples of drinking
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
Indeed, fewer Americans than ever are drinking alcohol, according to recent data.
—Emma Sandler, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Thanks to its beneficial antioxidants, drinking it daily might help lower your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and disease-causing inflammation.
—Allison Forsyth, Health, 10 Sep. 2025
Plus, coffee drinkers’ palates and expectations have been shaped by decades of drinking arabica.
—Alex Mayyasi, Saveur, 10 Sep. 2025
Stay Hydrated Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water can help prevent cavities and tooth decay for a few reasons.
—Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 4 Sep. 2025
They're instructed to wait 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking other oral medicines.
—Annika Kim Constantino,ashley Capoot, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025
Who are the upper middle class white ladies shooting guns and drinking who don't work?
—Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 3 Sep. 2025
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
Indeed, fewer Americans than ever are drinking alcohol, according to recent data.
—Emma Sandler, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Thanks to its beneficial antioxidants, drinking it daily might help lower your risk of heart disease, diabetes, and disease-causing inflammation.
—Allison Forsyth, Health, 10 Sep. 2025
Plus, coffee drinkers’ palates and expectations have been shaped by decades of drinking arabica.
—Alex Mayyasi, Saveur, 10 Sep. 2025
Stay Hydrated Staying hydrated by drinking plenty of water can help prevent cavities and tooth decay for a few reasons.
—Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 4 Sep. 2025
They're instructed to wait 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking other oral medicines.
—Annika Kim Constantino,ashley Capoot, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025
Who are the upper middle class white ladies shooting guns and drinking who don't work?
—Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 3 Sep. 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
-
Vision may be impacted and the sufferer will demonstrate symptoms of dementia before, ultimately, losing the ability to perform basic functions like eating, swallowing and breathing.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
-
The epiglottis blocks the trachea during swallowing.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
10 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 18 Sep. 2025.
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