soak

[ sohk ]

verb (used without object)

1. to lie in and become saturated or permeated with water or some other liquid.
2. to pass, as a liquid, through pores, holes, or the like:

   The rain soaked through the tear in the umbrella.

   Synonyms: seep

3. to be thoroughly wet:

   Her shoes and socks were soaking and her feet were freezing.

4. to penetrate or become known to the mind or feelings (followed by in ):

   The lesson didn't soak in.

   Synonyms: seep

5. Informal. to drink immoderately, especially alcoholic beverages:

   They were soaking at the bar.

verb (used with object)

1. to place or keep in liquid in order to saturate thoroughly; steep.
2. to wet thoroughly; saturate or drench.

   Antonyms: dry

3. to permeate thoroughly, as liquid or moisture does.

   Synonyms: penetrate, infuse

4. Metallurgy. to heat (a piece) for reworking.
5. Informal. to intoxicate (oneself ) by drinking an excess of liquor.
6. Slang. to beat hard; punish severely:

   I was soaked for that mistake.

7. to extract or remove by or as by soaking (often followed by out ):

   to soak a stain out of a napkin.

8. Slang. to overcharge:

   He was soaked by the waiter.

noun

1. the act or state of soaking or the state of being soaked.
2. the liquid in which anything is soaked.
3. Slang: Disparaging and Offensive. a habitual drinker of alcohol who is frequently intoxicated; a heavy drinker.
4. Australian. any small area of land, as near a spring or at the foot of a hill, that becomes swamplike or holds water after a period of heavy rain.

verb phrase

1. 1. to absorb or take in or up by absorption:

      Blotting paper soaks up ink.

   2. to absorb with one's mind or senses; take in:

      to soak up information.

   3. Slang. to drink to excess:

      He can really soak up the booze.

soak

/ səʊk /

verb

1. to make, become, or be thoroughly wet or saturated, esp by immersion in a liquid
2. whenintr, usually foll by in or into (of a liquid) to penetrate or permeate
3. tr; usually foll by in or up (of a permeable solid) to take in (a liquid) by absorption

   the earth soaks up rainwater

4. tr; foll by out or out of to remove by immersion in a liquid

   she soaked the stains out of the dress

5. tr metallurgy to heat (a metal) prior to working
6. informal.
   to drink excessively or make or become drunk
7. slang.
   tr to overcharge
8. slang.
   tr to put in pawn

noun

1. the act of immersing in a liquid or the period of immersion
2. the liquid in which something may be soaked, esp a solution containing detergent
3. another name for soakage
4. informal.
   a heavy rainfall
5. slang.
   a person who drinks to excess

Derived Forms

• ˈsoaker, noun
• ˈsoaking, nounadjective

Other Words From

• soak·er noun
• soak·ing·ly adverb
• o·ver·soak verb
• re·soak verb
• un·soaked adjective
• well-soaked adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of soak¹

First recorded before 1000; Middle English soken, Old English sōcian; akin to suck

Word History and Origins

Origin of soak¹

Old English sōcian to cook; see suck

Synonym Study

See wet.

Example Sentences

All the while you’re wearing a heated eye mask and your feet are soaking in a warm bath infused with Chinese herbs.

From Los Angeles Times

When the rain starts to fall, it comes down with increased intensity on soils that are not best able to soak up high levels of water.

From BBC

If heavy rain follows, water cannot soak into the ground and instead runs off, causing flash flooding.

From BBC

Trees are vital for life, helping to clean the air and soak up carbon emissions, as well as providing homes for thousands of birds, insects and mammals.

From BBC

But the WMO's scientists also says they have seen some evidence that as the world gets warmer, trees are not able to soak up the same level of CO2 as they once were.

From BBC

Related Words

• absorb
• bathe
• dip
• drink
• drown
• flood
• immerse
• marinate
• moisten
• penetrate
• saturate
• soften
• steep
• submerge
• wash