to soak

Examples

• All

• You've to soak them in cold water first.

  The Magdalene Sisters (2002)

• It says you're supposed to soak the matzo for five minutes.

  The Big Hit (1998)

• I gotta put these to soak.

  Marvin's Room (1996)

• And then I grab one last pad, soak it again.

• But for me really it's to soak any stains.

  Emily Norris

• I forgot to soak my retainer!

  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014)

• So step one, you're going to want to soak your rock wool.

• OK, so here are our seeds that we're soaking for four hours.

• A lot of people will soak bean seeds or corn seeds.

• In village preparation, the grains are pounded, soaked, sprouted, then dried again before they are ground.

  Academic text (1993)

Synonyms

M

to marinate

vsto soak

51 3.9

Soak food in a flavored liquid before cooking to add flavor

is used more generally for softening or cleaning, not flavoring only

D

to drench

vsto soak

34 3.0

Make someone or something completely wet with a lot of liquid

focuses on extended liquid contact to soften or clean rather than sudden wetting

W

to wet

vsto soak

26 1.0

To make something wet by covering it with liquid

involves leaving items in liquid over time to soften or clean rather than brief wetting

I

to infuse

vsto soak

19 4.1

Soak herbs or tea leaves in hot water to give their flavor

focuses more on softening or cleaning than on extracting flavor

D

to douse

vsto soak

18 4.4

To pour liquid over a person or thing to make them wet

often involves leaving in liquid for softening or cleaning over time

I

to immerse

vsto soak

9 4.2

Put something completely into a liquid to cover it

is about using liquid to soften or clean rather than only covering

S

to steep

vsto soak

8 3.5

To soak something in liquid to get flavor or clean it

is broader, used for softening or cleaning rather than mainly flavor extraction

B

to brine

vsto soak

8 4.8

To soak food in very salty water to keep it and add flavor

is broader and focuses on softening or cleaning rather than preserving

I

to impregnate

vsto soak

3 7.4

To fill something completely with a liquid or chemical

usually means using liquid mainly to soften or clean, not complete infusion

M

to macerate

vsto soak

1 8.5

To soak food in liquid until it becomes soft and breaks down

is broader, often used to soften or clean without implying breakdown

S

to sop

vsto soak

• Archaic

1 8.3

To make something take in liquid until it is very wet

is similar but focuses on softening or cleaning as main purpose

P

to presoak

vsto soak

1 2.9

To soak something in water before washing or cooking

is the general act of using liquid to soften or clean over time

S

to souse

vsto soak

1 8.8

To soak something completely in liquid

usually implies a period to soften or clean rather than just making wet

S

to submerse

vsto soak

1 7.3

To put something under the surface of water

usually includes leaving items in liquid to soften or clean over time

D

to dowse

vsto soak

7.8

To pour water over something so it becomes completely wet

tends to mean placing in liquid for a period to soften or clean

S

to sog

vsto soak

7.7

To make something very wet by putting liquid on it

often implies controlled soaking to soften or clean rather than just heaviness

Antonyms

D

to dry

570 1.0

To become free of water or wetness

Idioms

S

to soak your head

• Offensive

9.9

A rude phrase that tells someone to stop complaining and leave for a while

Phrasal Verbs

S

to soak up

• Informal

16 3.9

To take in and enjoy the atmosphere or information

S

to soak up

13 2.6

To take in liquid completely like a sponge or cloth

S

to soak through

6 3.1

To become completely wet all the way through

S

to soak overnight

1 2.8

Put something in water and leave it all night to make it soft

S

to soak up the sun

• Informal

1 3.5

To sit or lie outside to enjoy the warm sun

S

to soak in the tub

1 2.3

To relax for a while in warm water in a bathtub

S

to soak up knowledge

• Informal

1 4.0

To take in new information quickly and easily

How Long

to marinate

51 3.9

to soak

156 1.0

to steep

8 3.5

to dip

146 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology