imbibing

verb

present participle of imbibe
1
as in sipping
to swallow in liquid form an array of colorful and tasty drinks for party guests to imbibe

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in drinking
to take in (something liquid) through small openings plants can imbibe water through their roots

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 imbibing Guests who prefer imbibing to detoxing can also book cigar-rolling workshops, wine and rum tastings, and even personalized private dinners in Le Cave, which is the oldest wine cellar in the region and down the stairs from L’Oursin. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 May 2026 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 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 The poll also suggested that members of Gen Z, those born between 1997 and 2012, were imbibing far less than the generations that preceded them, reinforcing a wealth of anecdotal evidence from bar and club owners that twentysomethings just aren’t enamored of drinking culture. — Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2026 Today, Morgan responded to some Good Morning Britain banter in which the show’s presenters jokingly suggested Morgan might have tripped after imbibing. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 19 Jan. 2026 Enjoy watching the players battle it out on a giant projector while imbibing a Dope AF lychee martini or PB&J Old Fashioned. — Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 16 Jan. 2026 Watch parties at pubs, breweries, and places of imbibing across North America will be tuned in for the draw. — Lucia I Suarez Sang, CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imbibing
  1. sipping
  2. drinking
  3. gulping
  4. absorbing
Verb
  • Laughing, smoking cigarettes, and sipping bottles of Red Stripe, numerous packs of Black folks lounged around the joint.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Elsewhere, she was seen sipping drinks with Robbins, dining at a restaurant, playing Mahjong, and spending some quality time with close friends.
    — Juliana Ukiomogbe, InStyle, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of sipping
Verb
  • Jennifer Messemer-Skold, the communications director for Miami-Dade Water and Sewer, said the department’s stance is that the county’s tap water meets all current requirements and residents don’t need a filter to be drinking high quality water.
    — Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 7 Aug. 2026
  • As Ryan prepared to return to the United States, he and three members of the press were shot and killed, prompting Jones to enact a mass suicide plan involving drinking a fruit drink laced with poison and sedatives.
    — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of drinking
Verb
  • Others can’t stand the sound of gulping.
    — Sloane Crosley, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
  • 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, 25 May 2026
Definition of gulping
Verb
  • Owners now face the tough decision of raising prices and risking losing customers, or absorbing higher costs and sacrificing profits.
    — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Ensure the ground has impact-absorbing cushioning (rubber, pea gravel, mulch).
    — Oc Register, Oc Register, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of absorbing

Browse Nearby Words

imbibes
imbibing
imbrication
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Imbibing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imbibing. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on imbibing

Nglish: Translation of imbibing for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of circumscribe

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All