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Definition of "imbibe" []

  • To drink. (verb-transitive)
  • To absorb or take in as if by drinking: "The whole body . . . imbibes delight through every pore” ( Henry David Thoreau). (verb-transitive)
  • To receive and absorb into the mind: "Gladstone had . . . imbibed a strong prejudice against Americans” ( Philip Magnus). (verb-transitive)
  • Obsolete To permeate; saturate. (verb-transitive)
  • To drink alcoholic beverages. (verb-intransitive)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "imbibe" in a sentence
  • "She was pleased that he seemed to be pleased with her; he asked her to "imbibe" some ice-cream with him."
  • ""imbibe," settled once again to listen in gloomy silence."
  • "People who socialize with heavy drinkers are more likely to imbibe a bit too much themselves."