Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense soaks, present participle soaking, past tense, past participle soaked
1. verb
If you soak something or leave it tosoak, you put it into a liquid and leave it there.
Soak the beans for 2 hours. [VERB noun]
He turned off the water and left the dishes to soak. [VERB]
Synonyms: steep, immerse, submerge, infuse More Synonyms of soak
2. verb
If a liquid soaks something or if you soak something with a liquid, the liquid makes the thing very wet.
The water had soaked his jacket and shirt. [VERB noun]
Soak the soil around each bush with at least 4 gallons of water. [VERB noun + with]
Synonyms: wet, damp, saturate, drench More Synonyms of soak
3. verb
If a liquid soaksthrough something, it passes through it.
There was so much blood it had soaked through my boxer shorts. [VERB preposition/adverb]
Rain had soaked into the sand. [VERB preposition/adverb]
Synonyms: penetrate, pervade, permeate, enter More Synonyms of soak
4. verb
If someone soaks, they spend a long time in a hot bath, because they enjoy it.
What I need is to soak in a hot tub. [VERB]
Soak is also a noun.
I was having a long soak in the bath.
5. See also soaked, soaking
Phrasal verbs:
See soak up
More Synonyms of soak
soak in British English
(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. (transitive) metallurgy
to heat (a metal) prior to working
6. informal
to drink excessively or make or become drunk
7. (transitive) US and Canadian slang
to overcharge
8. (transitive) British slang
to put in pawn
noun
9.
the act of immersing in a liquid or the period of immersion
10.
the liquid in which something may be soaked, esp a solution containing detergent
11. another name for soakage (sense 3)
12. British informal
a heavy rainfall
13. slang
a person who drinks to excess
Derived forms
soaker (ˈsoaker)
noun
soaking (ˈsoaking)
noun, adjective
Word origin
Old English sōcian to cook; see suck
soak in American English
(soʊk)
verb transitive
1.
to make thoroughly wet; drench or saturate
soaked to the skin by the rain
2.
to submerge or keep in a liquid, as for thorough wetting, softening, for hydrotherapy, etc.
3.
a.
to take in (liquid) by sucking or absorbing
usually with up
b.
to absorb by exposure to it
to soak up sunshine
4.
a.
to take in mentally, esp. with little effort
to soak up knowledge
b.
to immerse (oneself) in some study or branch of learning
5. US, Informal
to charge heavily or too dearly; overcharge
6. US, Slang
to give a heavy blow to
verb intransitive
7.
to stay immersed in water or other liquid for wetting, softening, etc.
8.
to pass or penetrate as a liquid does; permeate
rain soaking through his coat
9.
to become absorbed mentally
the fact soaked into his head
noun
10.
the act or process of soaking
11.
the state of being soaked
12.
liquid used for soaking or steeping
13. Slang
a drunkard
Idioms:
soak out
SYNONYMY NOTE: soak implies immersion in a liquid, etc. as for the purpose of absorption, thorough wetting,softening, etc. [to soak bread in milk]; saturate implies absorption to a point where no more can be taken up [air saturated with moisture]; drench implies a thorough wetting as by a downpour [a garden drenched by the rain]; steep1 usually suggests soaking for the purpose of extracting the essence of something [to steep tea]; impregnate implies the penetration and permeation of one thing by another [wood impregnated with creosote]
Word origin
ME soken < OE socian < base of sucan: see suck
Examples of 'soak' in a sentence
soak
Stir in the prunes and their soaking liquid.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It was then soaked in a solution of his stem cells.
The Sun (2015)
Furthermore it makes a fine skin tonic and bath soak.
Guyton, Anita The Natural Beauty Book - cruelty-free cosmetics to make at home (1991)
You can soak up the vista without having to leave the comfort of the duvet.
The Sun (2009)
One of his feet is already soaking wet.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
But my one escape is having a long hot soak with bath oils and candles before bed.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
You can soak up the rays and watch the locals play volleyball.
The Sun (2013)
One end it would be steaming hot and the other would be soaking wet.
The Sun (2012)
Scoop the porcini out of the soaking liquid and chop.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Saddle sores can be soaked away at a selection of charming overnight stops.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
His nappy was soiled and his clothes soaking wet.
The Sun (2008)
Push the slices into the liquid to soak them.
The Sun (2016)
The energy and sweat are so amazing that he can soak through five shirts in a single night.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Put on a tight fitting pair of swimming goggles and soak a long piece of cloth in cider vinegar or lemon juice.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
And most importantly, have a soak in a hot bath.
The Sun (2015)
Alternatively, you could always light a few candles and soak in a hot bath.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Looking forward to a long, hot soak when you get home?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
DO you like a quick dip or a long soak?
The Sun (2015)
She was very hot - soaked.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Deep heat for muscular pain is not deep at all, yet hot and cold soaks after exercise are equally effective for reducing muscle pain.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Soak in the bath, immersed up to the neck, for fifteen to twenty minutes.
Turner, Roger Newman The Hayfever Handbook - a summer survival guide (1988)
In other languages
soak
British English: soak /səʊk/ VERB
When you soak something, or when you leave it to soak, you put it into a liquid and leave it there.
Soak the noodles in warm water for 10 minutes.
American English: soak
Arabic: يَنْقِعُ
Brazilian Portuguese: ensopar
Chinese: 浸透
Croatian: namočiti
Czech: namočit
Danish: lægge i blød
Dutch: weken
European Spanish: poner en remojo
Finnish: liottaa
French: tremper
German: einweichen
Greek: μουλιάζω
Italian: inzuppare
Japanese: 浸す
Korean: 잠기다
Norwegian: gjennombløte
Polish: zmoczyć
European Portuguese: ensopar
Romanian: a înmuia
Russian: замачивать(ся)
Latin American Spanish: poner en remojo
Swedish: blöta
Thai: แช่
Turkish: ıslatmak
Ukrainian: мочити
Vietnamese: ngâm
All related terms of 'soak'
soak up
If a soft or dry material soaks up a liquid , the liquid goes into the substance .
pre-soak
to soak something (such as washing ) beforehand
soak out
to draw out ( dirt , etc.) by or as by soaking
soak test
the act or process of testing something, such as software or a component , over an extended period of time
water-soak
to soak or drench with or in water
Chinese translation of 'soak'
soak
(səuk)
vt
(= drench) 使湿(濕)透 (shǐ shītòu)
(= leave in water) 浸泡 (jìnpào)
vi
[dirty washing, dishes]浸泡 (jìnpào)
[person] (in bath) 泡一泡 (pào yī pào)
to soak through sth浸透某物 (jìntòu mǒuwù)
to have a soak (in bath) 泡一泡 (pào yī pào)
1 (verb)
Definition
to put or lie in a liquid so as to become thoroughly wet
Soak the beans for two hours.
Synonyms
steep
green beans steeped in olive oil
immerse
The electrodes are immersed in liquid.
submerge
Submerge the pieces of fish in the poaching liquid and simmer.
infuse
teas made by infusing the roots of herbs
marinate (cookery)
Marinate the chicken for at least four hours.
dunk
submerse
2 (verb)
Definition
to put or lie in a liquid so as to become thoroughly wet
Soak the soil around each bush with at least 4 gallons of water.
Synonyms
wet
Wet the fabric with a damp sponge before ironing.
damp
She damped a hand towel and laid it across her head.
saturate
If the filter has been saturated with motor oil, discard it.
drench
They turned fire hoses on the people and drenched them.
douse
They doused him in petrol.
moisten
She took a sip of water to moisten her dry throat.
suffuse
wet through
waterlog
souse
drouk (Scottish)
3 (verb)
Definition
(of a liquid) to penetrate or permeate
Rain had soaked into the sand.
Synonyms
penetrate
A cool breeze penetrated the mosquito netting.
pervade
the corruption that pervades every stratum of society
permeate
The water will eventually permeate through the surrounding concrete.
enter
The icicle entered his right hand.
get in
infiltrate
Activists had infiltrated the student movement.
diffuse
seep
Radioactive water had seeped into underground reservoirs.
suffuse
A dull red flash suffused Selby's face.
make inroads (into)
4 (verb)
Soak yourself in a bath.
Synonyms
immerse
bathe
She paused long enough to bathe her blistered feet.
phrasal verb
See soak something up
Additional synonyms
in the sense of bathe
Definition
to apply liquid to (the skin or a wound) in order to cleanse or soothe
She paused long enough to bathe her blistered feet.
Synonyms
cleanse,
clean,
wash,
soak,
rinse
in the sense of damp
Definition
to make slightly wet
She damped a hand towel and laid it across her head.
Synonyms
moisten,
wet,
soak,
dampen,
lick,
moisturize,
humidify
in the sense of douse
Definition
to drench with water or other liquid
They doused him in petrol.
Synonyms
drench,
soak,
steep,
saturate,
duck,
submerge,
immerse,
dunk,
souse,
plunge into water
Synonyms of 'soak'
soak
Explore 'soak' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of drench
Definition
to make completely wet
They turned fire hoses on the people and drenched them.
Synonyms
soak,
flood,
wet,
duck,
drown,
steep,
swamp,
saturate,
inundate,
souse,
imbrue
in the sense of enter
The icicle entered his right hand.
Synonyms
penetrate,
get in,
insert into,
pierce,
pass into,
perforate
in the sense of infiltrate
Definition
to enter (an organization, area, etc.) gradually and in secret, so as to gain influence or control
Activists had infiltrated the student movement.
Synonyms
penetrate,
pervade,
permeate,
creep in,
percolate,
filter through to,
make inroads into,
sneak into (informal),
insinuate yourself,
work or worm your way into
in the sense of infuse
Definition
to soak or be soaked in order to extract flavour
teas made by infusing the roots of herbs
Synonyms
brew,
soak,
steep,
saturate,
immerse,
macerate
in the sense of marinate
Definition
to soak in marinade
Marinate the chicken for at least four hours.
Synonyms
souse,
soak,
steep,
immerse
in the sense of moisten
Definition
to make or become moist
She took a sip of water to moisten her dry throat.
Synonyms
dampen,
water,
wet,
soak,
damp,
moisturize,
humidify,
bedew
in the sense of permeate
Definition
to pass through or cause to pass through by osmosis or diffusion
The water will eventually permeate through the surrounding concrete.
Synonyms
pervade,
saturate,
charge,
fill,
pass through,
penetrate,
infiltrate,
imbue,
filter through,
spread through,
impregnate,
seep through,
percolate,
soak through,
diffuse throughout
in the sense of pervade
Definition
to spread through or throughout (something)
the corruption that pervades every stratum of society
Synonyms
spread through,
fill,
affect,
penetrate,
infuse,
permeate,
imbue,
suffuse,
percolate,
extend through,
diffuse through,
overspread
in the sense of saturate
Definition
to soak completely
If the filter has been saturated with motor oil, discard it.
Synonyms
soak,
steep,
drench,
seep,
imbue,
douse,
impregnate,
suffuse,
ret,
wet through,
waterlog,
souse,
drouk (Scottish)
in the sense of seep
Definition
to leak through slowly
Radioactive water had seeped into underground reservoirs.
Synonyms
ooze,
well,
leak,
soak,
bleed,
weep,
trickle,
leach,
exude,
permeate,
percolate
Additional synonyms
in the sense of souse
Definition
to steep or cook (food) in a marinade
Synonyms
steep,
soak,
pickle,
immerse,
drench,
marinate,
dunk
in the sense of submerge
Definition
to put or go below the surface of water or another liquid
Submerge the pieces of fish in the poaching liquid and simmer.