drench

[ drench ]

verb (used with object)

1. to wet thoroughly; soak.
2. to saturate by immersion in a liquid; steep.
3. to cover or fill completely; bathe:

   trees drenched with sunlight.

4. Veterinary Medicine. to administer a draft of medicine to (an animal), especially by force:

   to drench a horse.

5. Archaic. to cause to drink.

noun

1. the act of drenching.
2. something that drenches:

   a drench of rain.

3. a preparation for drenching or steeping.
4. a solution, especially one of fermenting bran, for drenching hides or skins.
5. a large drink or draft.
6. a draft of medicine, especially one administered to an animal by force.
7. Horticulture. a mixture of pesticide and water applied to the soil surrounding a plant.

drench

/ drɛntʃ /

verb

1. to make completely wet; soak
2. to give liquid medicine to (an animal), esp by force

noun

1. the act or an instance of drenching
2. a dose of liquid medicine given to an animal

Derived Forms

• ˈdrenching, nounadjective
• ˈdrencher, noun

Other Words From

• drencher noun
• drenching·ly adverb
• un·drenched adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of drench¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English drenchen, Old English drencan, causative of drincan “to drink” ( drink ); cognate with Dutch drenken, German tränken “to water, give to drink”

Word History and Origins

Origin of drench¹

Old English drencan to cause to drink; related to Old High German trenken

Synonym Study

See wet.

Example Sentences

The match was played in torrential rain, so the players were forced to go home in the same drenched clothes, with Logan developing a heavy cold.

From BBC

When buying concessions, he realized the carpet was drenched.

From Los Angeles Times

That philosophy was fully on display at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light in May, when Springsteen braved torrential rain to play for three hours to 50,000 drenched fans.

From BBC

The CNN anchor was reporting from the shore of the Manatee River in Bradenton, Fla., south of Tampa, describing the scene as violent winds blew past him and heavy rainfall drenched him and his equipment.

From Los Angeles Times

His words are drenched in the blood of history, echoing genocidal campaigns against Native Americans, Black people, Jews, and countless others deemed disposable by authoritarian regimes.

From Salon

Related Words

• deluge
• douse
• drown
• immerse
• impregnate
• inundate
• saturate
• soak
• steep
• submerge

More About Drench

What does drench mean?

To drench is to soak with a liquid, as in The rain drenched me from head to foot. Often, drench is used in reference to rain, bodies of water, or a spill of some kind.

To drench is also to saturate with liquid. When you saturate, or drench, a sponge with water, for example, you add as much water as the sponge can hold.

Figuratively, to drench is also to cover or fill completely, such as drenching a plant with sunlight by placing the plant in a sunny window. You might also be drenched in a strong emotion, such as joy or sadness. In other words, you’re full of that joy or sadness.

A drench is a large amount of liquid that is poured or dropped onto something, such as rain during a powerful rain storm.

Drench is also the specific act of drenching something.

Example: The rain is going to absolutely drench the clothes hanging on the laundry line.

Where does drench come from?

The first records of the term drench come from before the 900s. It ultimately comes from the Old English drincan, meaning “to drink.” In this case, drench and drink are both used to mean “to take liquid.”

In veterinary medicine, to drench an animal is to give the animal a medicine, especially by force. Often, larger animals, such as horses, are drenched.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to drench?

• drenched (adjective)
• drencher (noun)
• drenchingly (adverb)
• undrenched (adjective)

What are some synonyms for drench?

• deluge
• immerse
• inundate
• saturate
• soak

What are some words that share a root or word element with drench?

• drink
• drinkable
• drinker

What are some words that often get used in discussing drench?

• clothes
• rain
• water

How is drench used in real life?

Drench is commonly used to describe being thoroughly wet.

I would eat chips & dip for every meal. Queso, hummus, blue cheese, salsa, five layer, AND DRENCH EVERYTHING IN SPICY MAYO. I❤dipz

— Arden Rose (@ardenrose) January 12, 2017

Just went mountain biking with my dad it was sick. I'm drenched in mud now.

— J (@JVCKJ) March 1, 2015

Making sure to say "bit wet out there" to everyone you see when you come in absolutely drenched

— VeryBritishProblems (@SoVeryBritish) November 21, 2016

 

Try using drench!

Is drench used correctly in the following sentence?

If you drench your salad with dressing, all you will taste is the dressing.