imbibing

verb

present participle of imbibe
1
as in sipping
to swallow in liquid form an array of colorful and tasty drinks for party guests to imbibe

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
2
as in drinking
to take in (something liquid) through small openings plants can imbibe water through their roots

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of imbibing Reading these books is imbibing the Word of God, revealing Christ, which lights up our lives, illuminating the true idea of God as Love, and man as Love’s expression. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 23 Sep. 2026 Food and drink Opening four spots for dining and imbibing in an area as gastronomically oversaturated as this is a punchy move. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2026 With Vuckovich on the cusp of his 90th birthday, the seven-decade spread between the pianist and Tang embodies jazz’s crucial generational reach, with young players imbibing essential seasoning via direct contact with veteran masters. — Andrew Gilbert, Mercury News, 7 May 2026 One need not be a fan of marijuana to realize the dangers of stripping constitutional rights from Americans for imbibing legal products. — The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 14 Mar. 2026 The poll also suggested that members of Gen Z, those born between 1997 and 2012, were imbibing far less than the generations that preceded them, reinforcing a wealth of anecdotal evidence from bar and club owners that twentysomethings just aren’t enamored of drinking culture. — Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 1 Mar. 2026 Today, Morgan responded to some Good Morning Britain banter in which the show’s presenters jokingly suggested Morgan might have tripped after imbibing. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 19 Jan. 2026 Enjoy watching the players battle it out on a giant projector while imbibing a Dope AF lychee martini or PB&J Old Fashioned. — Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 16 Jan. 2026 Watch parties at pubs, breweries, and places of imbibing across North America will be tuned in for the draw. — Lucia I Suarez Sang, CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for imbibing
  1. sipping
  2. drinking
  3. gulping
  4. absorbing
Verb
  • That's because the path is now clear on all drinking, sipping, chugging and shotgunning beverages in the NFL.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Martha Plimpton, Hoon Lee, and Ciarán Hinds spent the evening trading jokes while sipping on spicy margaritas.
    — Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of sipping
Verb
  • Haymitch has a supporting role in the original franchise, appearing as the disillusioned, hard-drinking mentor of Lawrence’s Katniss Everdeen.
    — Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Doe had been drinking before arriving at the fraternity house to meet a friend, according to the civil lawsuit.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of drinking
Verb
  • Others can’t stand the sound of gulping.
    — Sloane Crosley, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
  • This viral anti-slip slow feeder lick bowl helps prevent gulping and bloating, while keeping your dogs entertained for longer with a healthy, fun challenge.
    — Kasey Caminiti, USA Today, 25 May 2026
Definition of gulping
Verb
  • The other difficulty is that unlike in the case of Disney absorbing Fox, Goldberg and Greenstein are bound by consent decrees agreed to with the state AGs to settle an antitrust lawsuit.
    — Brent Lang, IndieWire, 6 Oct. 2026
  • The group is silent and still, reverently absorbing the mechanical chug of this nearly outmoded office machine like Hollywood Bowl-goers taking in Joshua Bell.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of absorbing

Browse Nearby Words

imbibes
imbibing
imbrication
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Imbibing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/imbibing. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All