Definition

1. Verb:

   • To make something very wet by keeping it in a liquid for a period of time.
   • To become very wet by absorbing a liquid.
   • To spend time relaxing in a bath or pool of water.
   • To charge someone too much money; to overcharge.
   • To drink alcohol excessively.

2. Noun:

   • The act or process of making something wet by leaving it in a liquid.
   • A period of time spent relaxing in a bath or pool.

Examples

• Verb:

  • Soak the beans in water overnight before cooking.
  • The heavy rain will soak the dry ground.
  • I like to soak in a hot bath after a long day.
  • The mechanic tried to soak me for the repair.
  • He went to the bar to soak his sorrows.

• Noun:

  • Give the stained shirt a good soak in cold water.
  • A long soak in the tub is very relaxing.

Advanced Usage

• "soak up": To absorb a liquid or, figuratively, to absorb information or an experience.

  • The towel soaked up the spilled milk.
  • She spent a year abroad to soak up the culture.

• "soak through": For a liquid to penetrate completely.

  • The rain had soaked through my jacket.

• "soak in": To be absorbed or to fully understand something.

  • I need a moment for the news to soak in.

Variants and Related Words

• Soaked (adj.): Thoroughly wet; drenched.

  • We got caught in the storm and arrived home completely soaked.

• Soaking (adj./adv.): Extremely wet; drenching.

  • He was soaking wet. (adj.)
  • It was raining soaking wet. (adv.)

• Soaker (n.): A heavy rainstorm; something that causes soaking.

  • We're in for a real soaker this afternoon.

Synonyms

• Verb: Drench, saturate, immerse, submerge, overcharge, fleece.
• Noun: Immersion, drenching.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Soak away: For liquid to drain or disappear into the ground.

  • The water should soak away into the soil.

• Soak out: To remove something by soaking.

  • Try to soak the stain out with detergent.

Related Idioms

• "soak it all in": To fully experience and appreciate a moment or situation.

  • Standing on the mountaintop, he paused to soak it all in.

• "soak to the skin": To become completely wet.

  • The sudden downpour soaked us to the skin.

Noun

1. washing something by allowing it to soak
2. the process of becoming softened and saturated as a consequence of being immersed in water (or other liquid)
   • a good soak put life back in the wagon

Verb

1. heat a metal prior to working it
2. fill, soak, or imbue totally
   • soak the bandage with disinfectant
3. become drunk or drink excessively
4. make drunk (with alcoholic drinks)
5. beat severely
6. leave as a guarantee in return for money
   • pawn your grandfather's gold watch
7. cover with liquid; pour liquid onto
   • souse water on his hot face
8. rip off; ask an unreasonable price
9. submerge in a liquid
   • I soaked in the hot tub for an hour