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
Some people find that drinking it on an empty stomach, such as before breakfast, can also lead to digestive upset or acid reflux.
—
Lauren Panoff, 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
Meanwhile, Jere is drinking at the bar with his friends, Taylor, Steven and Denise.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
The female resident arrived home at about midnight, when Rubio and Rodas were still drinking alcohol, the affidavit states.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2025
But some users of Feel Free report online having felt slightly hooked after a short period of drinking just one bottle daily.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025
While research on cucumber water itself is limited, drinking it may help curb your appetite and support healthy skin.
—Lindsey Desoto, Health, 26 Aug. 2025
In the days leading up to your appointment, stay hydrated internally and externally by drinking plenty of water and moisturizing.
—Catharine Malzahn, Glamour, 26 Aug. 2025
Lauren Panoff, 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
Meanwhile, Jere is drinking at the bar with his friends, Taylor, Steven and Denise.
—Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
The female resident arrived home at about midnight, when Rubio and Rodas were still drinking alcohol, the affidavit states.
—Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Sep. 2025
But some users of Feel Free report online having felt slightly hooked after a short period of drinking just one bottle daily.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025
While research on cucumber water itself is limited, drinking it may help curb your appetite and support healthy skin.
—Lindsey Desoto, Health, 26 Aug. 2025
In the days leading up to your appointment, stay hydrated internally and externally by drinking plenty of water and moisturizing.
—Catharine Malzahn, Glamour, 26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drinking
Verb
-
Guests at the celebration were also shown sipping wine and spending time in nature, including painting on canvases as a group.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
-
There’s nothing better than strolling in a light jacket, sipping a cool can of seltzer, is there folks?—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
5 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
-
The drop in profit margins suggests businesses are absorbing higher costs driven by tariffs in their bottom lines.—
Matt Egan,
CNN Money,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Aveda Hand Relief Moisturizing Crème gets it right with a rich yet fast-absorbing formula that pairs glycerin and aloe vera for lasting hydration, while exfoliating lactic acid gently smooths rough patches.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
10 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
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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
-
This can make swallowing painful.—
Mark Gurarie,
Health,
4 Sep. 2025
-
These cosmic enigmas defy our everyday understanding of space and time, swallowing light and matter and pushing the laws of physics to the extreme.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
2 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 11 Sep. 2025.
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