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
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Recent Examples of drinking
Rose said Ye bought into her flattery and liked the idea of drinking booze and playing up his bigshot status.
—
Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 6 May 2026
The couple had been drinking at the Abaco Inn and attempted to return to the yacht despite high winds and choppy seas, which Brian said caused Lynette to fall overboard.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026
Residents have been drinking bottled water provided by the state since 2021.
—Dylan Jackson, ABC News, 6 May 2026
Beyond unruly behavior on airplanes, drinking before a flight might not be the cure-all passengers are hoping for.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 6 May 2026
Eliot moved to a cottage in the Lake District, a region in North West England, and stopped touring, working with their managers, drinking and going out.
—Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026
For many people, the day does not truly start until drinking a cup of coffee in the morning.
—Kristen Gasnick, Verywell Health, 6 May 2026
Support your training by eating a balanced diet, drinking plenty of fluids, and getting enough sleep.
—Brittany Dube, Health, 5 May 2026
As a whole, Gen Z is drinking less than previous generations.
—Charles Trepany, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 6 May 2026
The couple had been drinking at the Abaco Inn and attempted to return to the yacht despite high winds and choppy seas, which Brian said caused Lynette to fall overboard.
—Peter D'abrosca, FOXNews.com, 6 May 2026
Residents have been drinking bottled water provided by the state since 2021.
—Dylan Jackson, ABC News, 6 May 2026
Beyond unruly behavior on airplanes, drinking before a flight might not be the cure-all passengers are hoping for.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 6 May 2026
Eliot moved to a cottage in the Lake District, a region in North West England, and stopped touring, working with their managers, drinking and going out.
—Francesca Gariano, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026
For many people, the day does not truly start until drinking a cup of coffee in the morning.
—Kristen Gasnick, Verywell Health, 6 May 2026
Support your training by eating a balanced diet, drinking plenty of fluids, and getting enough sleep.
—Brittany Dube, Health, 5 May 2026
As a whole, Gen Z is drinking less than previous generations.
—Charles Trepany, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drinking
Verb
-
Install a bench on your small front porch to maximize the space and create a spot for sipping coffee.—
Kristin Hohenadel,
The Spruce,
2 May 2026
-
Collier, who appeared before the court early in the morning UK time, punctuated his evidence by sipping coffee from a china cup, and at one point audibly yawned.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Ferrara makes no bones about the catastrophic consequences of so much boozing and chasing the dragon on his personal life and finances.—
Nick Pinkerton,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
-
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
-
Over the last few years, developers of wind and solar projects, most of whom aren’t from here, have been absorbing the bulk of this smoldering, communal wariness.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
7 May 2026
-
By 2008, New York City overhauled its building codes, fully absorbing the lessons of 9/11, with a focus on stair width, ceiling height, and airflow.—
Michelle Sinclair Colman,
Curbed,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
This viral anti-slip slow feeder lick bowl helps prevent gulping and bloating, while keeping your dogs entertained for longer with a healthy, fun challenge.—
Kasey Caminiti,
USA Today,
20 Feb. 2026
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Yes, gulping the liquid the night before was an ordeal — try drinking three liters of anything in three hours, going to sleep, then waking up six hours later for one final liter.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Almost fittingly, when Shula died at age 90 on May 20, 2020, Covid had just started to rage, the budding pandemic swallowing everything.—
Greg Cote
April 28,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
-
His older son has an immune disease called eosinophilic esophagitis, where white blood cells gather in the esophagus and cause issues with swallowing and breathing.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
With Vuckovich on the cusp of his 90th birthday, the seven-decade spread between the pianist and Tang embodies jazz’s crucial generational reach, with young players imbibing essential seasoning via direct contact with veteran masters.—
Andrew Gilbert,
Mercury News,
7 May 2026
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One need not be a fan of marijuana to realize the dangers of stripping constitutional rights from Americans for imbibing legal products.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drinking. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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