soak
sohk
Soak (verb) means to leave something in liquid until it becomes thoroughly wet. Example: “Soak the beans overnight before cooking them.”
verb
1
To leave something in liquid until it becomes thoroughly wet.
"Soak the beans overnight before cooking them."
"Her clothes were soaked after standing in the rain."
2
Informal: to charge someone an excessive amount of money.
"The garage really soaked us for that repair."
noun
1
A period of being immersed in liquid.
"She treated herself to a long soak in the bathtub."
How to use soak
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo saturate something with liquid, or (informally) to overcharge someone; also, a good long bath.
Common pairings
soak overnight
soak in the tub
get soaked
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Word forms
- Plural
- soaks
- Third person singular
- soaks
- Past tense
- soaked
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ the beans overnight before cooking them.
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.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for soak
See all rhymes for 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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