soak
1 of 2verb
ˈsōk 
soaked; soaking; soaks
intransitive verb
1
: to lie immersed in liquid (such as water) : become saturated by or as if by immersion
2
a
: to enter or pass through something by or as if by pores or interstices : permeate
b
: to penetrate or affect the mind or feelings —usually used with in or into
3
: to drink alcoholic beverages intemperately
transitive verb
1
: to permeate so as to wet, soften, or fill thoroughly
2
: to place in a surrounding element (such as liquid) to wet or permeate thoroughly
3
: to extract by or as if by steeping
soak the dirt out
4
a
: to draw or take in by or as if by suction or absorption
soaked up the sunshine
b
: to intoxicate (oneself) by drinking alcoholic beverages
5
: to cause to pay an exorbitant amount
soaker noun
soak
2 of 2noun
1
a
: the act or process of soaking : the state of being soaked
b
: the liquid in which something is soaked
2
: drunkard
3
slang : pawn entry 2 sense 2
Synonyms
Verb
- drench
- drown
- impregnate
- macerate
- saturate
- sodden
- sop
- souse
- steep
Noun
- alcoholic
- alkie [slang]
- alky
- boozehound
- boozer
- dipsomaniac
- drinker
- drunk
- drunkard
- inebriate
- juicehead [slang]
- juicer [slang]
- lush
- rummy
- soaker
- sot
- souse
- tippler
- toper
- tosspot
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb You should soak those dirty clothes before you wash them. The beans soaked in water overnight. He relaxed and soaked in the tub. After planting the seeds, soak the soil. She soaked the dog with the hose. His shirt was soaked with sweat. I was soaked by the rain. The oil soaked into the wood. Sweat soaked through his shirt. Rain soaked through her jacket. Noun I had a long, hot soak in the tub. felt sorry for the town soak, who couldn't hold a job See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 8 Sep. 2022 Without access to a spot to soak at least once a day, a toad loses its ability to breathe and can die. Paighten Harkins, The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Sep. 2022 But if teachers simply soak up the content, only about 15% of the material is ever implemented in the classroom, Butler said. Lelah Byron And Aimee Galaszewski, Journal Sentinel, 8 Sep. 2022 As the region warms, even snowpacks that seem healthy while piled up in the mountains can result in a trickle into reservoirs after the atmosphere, stressed trees and dry soils soak up their share. AZCentral.com, 6 Sep. 2022 Getting out of the shower or bath — only to emerge onto a bath mat that doesn't soak up any of the water dripping off of you — is hardly the way to end a relaxing session under hot water. Amy Schulman, Peoplemag, 1 Sep. 2022 This helps hold the chassis up and allows the suspension to better soak up the bumps and not transfer them to the rider. Peter Jackson, Robb Report, 30 Aug. 2022 Add warm-to-hot water to cover the noodles by 1 inch and soak for at least 15 and up to 45 minutes, or until softened. G. Daniela Galarza, Washington Post, 25 Aug. 2022 For adventurous travelers with four-wheel-drive vehicles, northwestern Nevada’s Soldier Meadows has hot springs to soak in and protected wilderness nearby that’s great for hiking or for camping and contemplating the stars in a dark night sky. Brigid Mander, WSJ, 16 Aug. 2022 Minerva Orduño Rincón, The Arizona Republic, 8 Sep. 2022 Give them a good soak after repotting, then water every other day or whenever the soil seems dry. Viveka Neveln, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Sep. 2022 Nothing is more important or more relaxing in my self-care routine than a nice long soak at the end of a long day. The Editors, Town & Country, 19 Aug. 2022 After a day on the slopes, take a soak at the on-mountain Nordic Spa. Megan Michelson, Outside Online, 26 Nov. 2020 The shake and quick-soak method outlined here is a safer approach. Joe Lindsey, Outside Online, 6 Nov. 2020 Comfort any mom-to-be with this gift set that includes belly butter, magnesium lotion, anti-nausea tea, and a bath soak. Jamie Kravitz, Woman's Day, 4 Aug. 2022 Near Iceland's gateway Keflavík Airport, the country's most popular place for a silica mask and a soak is often the country's most crowded. Katie Lockhart, CNN, 26 July 2022 Simply pour some bath soak into the tub to give the water an iridescent effect that also soothes the skin and mind with its blend of essential oils, shea butter and CBD. Annie O’sullivan, Good Housekeeping, 25 July 2022 See More
Verb
Texas is hosting No. 1 Alabama on Saturday, and Texas A&M fans are here to soak up every minute of it. Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 8 Sep. 2022 Without access to a spot to soak at least once a day, a toad loses its ability to breathe and can die. Paighten Harkins, The Salt Lake Tribune, 8 Sep. 2022 But if teachers simply soak up the content, only about 15% of the material is ever implemented in the classroom, Butler said. Lelah Byron And Aimee Galaszewski, Journal Sentinel, 8 Sep. 2022 As the region warms, even snowpacks that seem healthy while piled up in the mountains can result in a trickle into reservoirs after the atmosphere, stressed trees and dry soils soak up their share. AZCentral.com, 6 Sep. 2022 Getting out of the shower or bath — only to emerge onto a bath mat that doesn't soak up any of the water dripping off of you — is hardly the way to end a relaxing session under hot water. Amy Schulman, Peoplemag, 1 Sep. 2022 This helps hold the chassis up and allows the suspension to better soak up the bumps and not transfer them to the rider. Peter Jackson, Robb Report, 30 Aug. 2022 Add warm-to-hot water to cover the noodles by 1 inch and soak for at least 15 and up to 45 minutes, or until softened. G. Daniela Galarza, Washington Post, 25 Aug. 2022 For adventurous travelers with four-wheel-drive vehicles, northwestern Nevada’s Soldier Meadows has hot springs to soak in and protected wilderness nearby that’s great for hiking or for camping and contemplating the stars in a dark night sky. Brigid Mander, WSJ, 16 Aug. 2022 Noun
Giving the tuna a good long soak will loosen most, but not all the spines. Minerva Orduño Rincón, The Arizona Republic, 8 Sep. 2022 Give them a good soak after repotting, then water every other day or whenever the soil seems dry. Viveka Neveln, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Sep. 2022 Nothing is more important or more relaxing in my self-care routine than a nice long soak at the end of a long day. The Editors, Town & Country, 19 Aug. 2022 After a day on the slopes, take a soak at the on-mountain Nordic Spa. Megan Michelson, Outside Online, 26 Nov. 2020 The shake and quick-soak method outlined here is a safer approach. Joe Lindsey, Outside Online, 6 Nov. 2020 Comfort any mom-to-be with this gift set that includes belly butter, magnesium lotion, anti-nausea tea, and a bath soak. Jamie Kravitz, Woman's Day, 4 Aug. 2022 Near Iceland's gateway Keflavík Airport, the country's most popular place for a silica mask and a soak is often the country's most crowded. Katie Lockhart, CNN, 26 July 2022 Simply pour some bath soak into the tub to give the water an iridescent effect that also soothes the skin and mind with its blend of essential oils, shea butter and CBD. Annie O’sullivan, Good Housekeeping, 25 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English soken, from Old English socian; akin to Old English sūcan to suck
First Known Use
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing soak
Kids Definition
soak 1 of 2
verb
ˈsōk
soaked; soaking
1
: to lie covered with liquid
He soaked in the tub.
2
: to place in a liquid to wet or as if to wet thoroughly
Soak the beans in water.
3
: to make very wet
The rain soaked us.
4
: to enter or pass through something by or as if by tiny holes : permeate
The water soaked into the ground.
5
: to draw in by or as if by absorption The rag soaked up the spill.
She soaked up the sunshine.
soak
2 of 2noun
1
: the act or process of letting something stay in a liquid for a long time to soften or clean it
2
: a long bath
Medical Definition
soak
noun
ˈsōk
: an often hot medicated solution with which a body part is soaked usually long or repeatedly especially to promote healing, relieve pain, or stimulate local circulation
soak 1 of 2
noun
as in alcoholic
a person who makes a habit of getting drunk felt sorry for the town soak, who couldn't hold a job Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- alcoholic
- drunk
- soaker
- souse
- sot
- inebriate
- drinker
- lush
- dipsomaniac
- alky
- alkie
- boozehound
- rummy
- drunkard
- tippler
- swigger
- juicer
- toper
- tosspot
- boozer
- juicehead
- swiller
- wino
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- abstainer
- teetotaler
- teetotaller
- nondrinker
- teetotalist
soak
2 of 2verb
1
as in to saturate
to wet thoroughly with liquid we ran for home as soon as the rain started, but our clothes still ended up soaked Synonyms & Similar Words
- saturate
- drench
- drown
- submerge
- immerse
- macerate
- wash
- dip
- impregnate
- presoak
- sodden
- marinate
- steep
- sop
- water
- souse
- penetrate
- bathe
- waterlog
- hydrate
- moisten
- inundate
- douse
- water-soak
- permeate
- seethe
- dampen
- damp
- swamp
- humidify
- infiltrate
- swill
- dowse
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dry
- drain
- dehydrate
- wring (out)
- sear
- empty
- void
- desiccate
- parch
- dehumidify
2
as in to gouge
to charge (someone) too much for goods or services a merchant who soaks the tourists every summer Synonyms & Similar Words
- gouge
- sting
- overcharge
- surcharge
- cheat
- stick
- skin
- fleece
- clip
- mischarge
- defraud
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- undercharge
3
as in to wet
to make wet that downpour soaked my hair, and now I look like a sight Synonyms & Similar Words
- wet
- wash
- drown
- water
- rinse
- flood
- drench
- bathe
- douse
- submerge
- flush
- sodden
- waterlog
- dip
- sop
- damp
- sprinkle
- wet down
- water-soak
- shower
- souse
- moisten
- splash
- dowse
- hydrate
- saturate
- bedraggle
- drizzle
- dampen
- moisturize
- humidify
- mist
- inundate
- deluge
- rehydrate
- overflow
- impregnate
- swamp
- bedew
- irrigate
- dunk
- slosh
- lave
- steep
- duck
- rewet
- asperse
- sluice
- rewash
- hose (down)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- dry
- evaporate
- dehydrate
- desiccate
- scorch
- sear
- parch
- wring
- dewater
- drip-dry
- freeze-dry
- dehumidify
4
as in to drink
to partake excessively of alcoholic beverages depressed about his love life, he repaired to a bar to soak Synonyms & Similar Words
- drink
- booze
- guzzle
- revel
- tipple
- bib
- hit the bottle
- imbibe
- carouse
- liquor (up)
- booze it up
- lush (up)
- nip
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- abstain
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of soak are drench, impregnate, saturate, and steep. While all these words mean "to permeate or be permeated with a liquid," soak implies usually prolonged immersion as for softening or cleansing.
soak the garment in soapy water
In some situations, the words drench and soak are roughly equivalent. However, drench implies a thorough wetting by something that pours down or is poured.
clothes drenched by a cloudburst
The words impregnate and soak can be used in similar contexts, but impregnate implies a thorough interpenetration of one thing by another.
a cake strongly impregnated with brandy
The synonyms saturate and soak are sometimes interchangeable, but saturate implies a resulting effect of complete absorption until no more liquid can be held.
a saturated sponge
While in some cases nearly identical to soak, steep suggests either the extraction of an essence (as of tea leaves) by the liquid or the imparting of a quality (such as a color) to the thing immersed.
steep the tea for five minutes