English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
verb

drench

drehnch

Drench (verb) means to soak someone or something completely by pouring or splashing liquid on it, or by immersing it. Example: “A sudden downpour drenched everyone waiting at the bus stop.”

verb
1
To soak someone or something completely by pouring or splashing liquid on it, or by immersing it.
"A sudden downpour drenched everyone waiting at the bus stop."
"He drenched the salad in dressing."
noun
1
A dose of medicine given to an animal, often forced down its throat.
"The farmer gave the sheep a drench to treat worms."

How to use drench

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo make something thoroughly wet, or (on a farm) to force-feed an animal liquid medicine.

Common mistake

In everyday speech "drenched" almost always means soaking wet; the farming sense (medicine dose) is a separate, narrower usage.

Common pairings
drenched in rain drenched with sweat a drench for livestock

Word forms

drenched past tense, drencht past tense, drenches plural, drench plural, drenched plural, drencht plural, drenches plural, drenches singular, drench singular, drenched singular, drencht singular, drenchest singular, drenchedst singular, drencheth singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “drench” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

A sudden downpour _____ everyone waiting at the bus stop.

Etymology

From Old English drenc, meaning a drink or dose of medicine — related to the word "drink."

Origin: Old English

Rhymes for drench

See all rhymes for drench →

Frequently asked questions

What does “drench” mean?

The word “drench” means to soak someone or something completely by pouring or splashing liquid on it, or by immersing it. In plain terms, to make something thoroughly wet, or (on a farm) to force-feed an animal liquid medicine.

How do you pronounce “drench”?

“Drench” is pronounced drehnch (/dɹɛnt͡ʃ/ in IPA).

How do you use “drench” in a sentence?

Here is “drench” used in a sentence: “A sudden downpour drenched everyone waiting at the bus stop.”

What part of speech is “drench”?

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

Where does the word “drench” come from?

The word “drench” comes from Old English. From Old English drenc, meaning a drink or dose of medicine — related to the word "drink.".

How many meanings does “drench” have?

“Drench” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to soak someone or something completely by pouring or splashing liquid on it, or by immersing it.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial