soak

14 synonyms and 2 antonyms for soak, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To leave something in liquid until it becomes thoroughly wet.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

hook

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

steep soaking

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

submerge drench saturate immerse overcharge fleece dowse douse gazump hock soakage

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To leave something in liquid until it becomes thoroughly wet.

“Soak the beans overnight before cooking them.”

steep submerge drench saturate immerse overcharge fleece dowse hook douse gazump hock

Opposites

dehydrate dry

2. noun

A period of being immersed in liquid.

“She treated herself to a long soak in the bathtub.”

soaking soakage

How to use soak

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

soak overnight soak in the tub get soaked

Etymology

Came into English from Middle English soken, from Old English socian ("to soak, steep", literally "to cause to suck (up)"), from Proto-Germanic *sukōną ("to soak"), the causative of Proto-Germanic *sūkaną ("to suck"). It is cognate with Middle Dutch soken ("to cause to suck"); see also suck.

Full origin of soak →

Frequently asked questions

What does “soak” mean?

The word “soak” means to leave something in liquid until it becomes thoroughly wet. In plain terms, to saturate something with liquid, or (informally) to overcharge someone; also, a good long bath.

How do you pronounce “soak”?

“Soak” is pronounced sohk (/soʊk/ in IPA).

How do you use “soak” in a sentence?

Here is “soak” used in a sentence: “Soak the beans overnight before cooking them.”

What part of speech is “soak”?

Depending on how it is used, “soak” can be a verb and a noun.

Is “soak” a common word?

“Soak” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “soak” have?

“Soak” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to leave something in liquid until it becomes thoroughly wet.

What is the difference between soak and drench?

Soak means to leave something in liquid until it becomes thoroughly wet, often gradually over time, while drench implies suddenly and completely wetting something, often from above.

What does it mean to soak someone financially?

Used informally, to soak someone means to charge them an excessive amount of money.

Can soak be used as a noun?

Yes, as a noun, a soak refers to a period of being immersed in liquid, as in "enjoying a long soak in the bath."

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dry hook steep soaking fleece dehydrate gazump overcharge hock douse immerse submerge

Nearby words

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