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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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of drinking
To manage your thirst, try limiting your salt intake, drinking enough water throughout the day, and regulating your bedroom temperature.
—
Lauren O'Connor, Health, 23 Oct. 2025
Then last year, Tuco started drinking more water than usual.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 23 Oct. 2025
Drowsiness Anyone who takes a medication that enhances sleep should be cautious when drinking chamomile tea.
—Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 23 Oct. 2025
Judge Dean Benjamini granted bail but said Rodriguez was required to abstain from drinking alcohol, driving and traveling out of the state.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
In the year before the assassination, Mangione traveled to Asia, climbing a mountain in Japan and drinking with expat Americans in Thailand, according to The New York Times.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Charles has visited every continent on Earth, drinking rancid yak butter tea in Lhasa, snorkeling with sea lions in the Galapagos and even climbing an iceberg in Antarctica.
—Charles Q. Choi, Space.com, 22 Oct. 2025
The woman said Hernandez Murcia had been drinking heavily, about half a bottle of tequila, and refused to detail their daughter’s whereabouts, according to his arrest warrant.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2025
The pair talked across time zones with Giuffre drinking her morning coffee in Perth on FaceTime 12 hours ahead of von Mueffling who cooked stew or pasta for her family on Long Island during the pandemic.
—Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
Lauren O'Connor, Health, 23 Oct. 2025
Then last year, Tuco started drinking more water than usual.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 23 Oct. 2025
Drowsiness Anyone who takes a medication that enhances sleep should be cautious when drinking chamomile tea.
—Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 23 Oct. 2025
Judge Dean Benjamini granted bail but said Rodriguez was required to abstain from drinking alcohol, driving and traveling out of the state.
—MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Oct. 2025
In the year before the assassination, Mangione traveled to Asia, climbing a mountain in Japan and drinking with expat Americans in Thailand, according to The New York Times.
—Michael Ruiz, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Charles has visited every continent on Earth, drinking rancid yak butter tea in Lhasa, snorkeling with sea lions in the Galapagos and even climbing an iceberg in Antarctica.
—Charles Q. Choi, Space.com, 22 Oct. 2025
The woman said Hernandez Murcia had been drinking heavily, about half a bottle of tequila, and refused to detail their daughter’s whereabouts, according to his arrest warrant.
—Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 22 Oct. 2025
The pair talked across time zones with Giuffre drinking her morning coffee in Perth on FaceTime 12 hours ahead of von Mueffling who cooked stew or pasta for her family on Long Island during the pandemic.
—Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drinking
Verb
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Two seasons ago, a motley assembly of A-listers including Lewis Hamilton, Zoey Deutch, Nina Dobrev and Jared Leto, arrived to the Antarctic peninsula on a 414-foot mega-yacht, sporting sequin dresses and tuxedos, sipping tulips of champagne.—
Brad Japhe,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Oct. 2025
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Gather with friends and while away the afternoon with magically spiked concoctions — whether sipping a Jasmine Peach or Cucumber Mint Mystic Tea — and extravagant savory and sweet treats.—
Kathryn Streeter,
USA Today,
24 Oct. 2025
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
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Overwater your money tree, and its roots will drown and rot because sodden soil prevents the roots from absorbing oxygen and nutrients from the soil.—
Leanne Potts,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Oct. 2025
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Small vendors are forced to choose between raising prices and losing clients, absorbing the expenses (killing margins), or purchasing more inventory prior to tariff rises (tying up capital).—
Vitalii Savryha,
Sourcing Journal,
21 Oct. 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
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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
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Symptoms of salmonella poisoning Symptoms of salmonella poisoning usually start six hours to six days after swallowing the bacteria.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
22 Oct. 2025
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In recent years he's suffered from post-polio syndrome -- difficulty swallowing and tightness and pain in his limbs.—
Arthur Allen,
ABC News,
22 Oct. 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 29 Oct. 2025.
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