Definition

1. Verb:
   • To drink (a liquid): To consume a liquid, especially an alcoholic beverage, by drinking.
   • To absorb or assimilate (ideas, knowledge, or qualities): To take in and make part of one's understanding or character, often gradually or deeply.
   • To take in (a gas, light, or heat): For a substance to absorb or soak up something like a gas or moisture.

Usage and Examples

• Verb (To drink):

  • It is common to imbibe water throughout the day for good health.
  • They went to the pub to imbibe a few pints of beer.

• Verb (To absorb ideas/knowledge):

  • Students are encouraged to imbibe the principles of critical thinking.
  • She imbibed a love for literature from her teacher.

• Verb (To take in a substance):

  • The dry soil quickly imbibed the rainwater.
  • This material can imbibe a significant amount of oil.

Advanced Usage

• "to imbibe something from someone/something": To absorb or learn something from a particular source.
  • He imbibed his political views from his family.
• "to imbibe freely/heavily": To drink alcohol, often in large quantities.
  • At the festival, some guests imbibed freely.

Variants and Related Words

• Imbibition (n): The process of absorbing or taking in a liquid.
  • The imbibition of water causes the seed to swell.
• Imbiber (n): A person who drinks, especially one who drinks alcohol.
  • He was known as a regular imbiber at the local tavern.

Synonyms

• Drink: To take a liquid into the mouth and swallow it.
• Absorb: To take in or soak up (a substance, information, or ideas).
• Assimilate: To take in and understand fully (information or ideas).
• Ingest: To take (food, drink, or another substance) into the body.

Antonyms

• Emit: To produce and discharge (something, especially gas or radiation).
• Exude: To discharge (a liquid or smell) slowly and steadily.
• Reject: To dismiss or refuse to accept (an idea or concept).

Related Phrases and Idioms

• "Imbibe the spirit of...": To deeply absorb or take on the essential quality or atmosphere of something.
  • The students were encouraged to imbibe the spirit of inquiry.
• "Imbibe knowledge": A common collocation meaning to absorb or take in knowledge.
  • He spent his youth traveling to imbibe knowledge from different cultures.

Verb

1. receive into the mind and retain
   • Imbibe ethical principles
2. take in liquids
   • The patient must drink several liters each day
   • The children like to drink soda
3. take (gas, light or heat) into a solution
4. take in, also metaphorically
   • The sponge absorbs water well
   • She drew strength from the minister's words