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imbiber

imbiber

1 8.4
A person who drinks alcohol a lot
  • noun
  • /ɪmˈbaɪbər/
translation icon : bebedor
  • During the festival, many imbibers sampled local craft beers and chatted with the brewers.

Examples

  • I know that I speak for many who thank Paul Clarke for his years of thoughtful contribution and insight through the portal of Mixology Monday, while also welcoming the well-traveled imbiber Frederick as its new host.

    Blog text (6)
  • Imbibers get the munchies and proceed to spend hundreds of credits on food.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • A fellow imbiber explained to me his faithful adherence to gin.

    Academic text (2011)
  • While both the right of the imbiber and the right of the liquor manufacturer were seriously considered (particularly by state judges), citizens generally valued community standards above competing considerations.

    Academic text (2002)
  • If smoking weed or consuming too much alcohol ever has any negative consequences on the imbibers, they're on their own as far as I am concerned.

    Blog text (2)
  • I never knew how much people in the Valley loved cider until I showed up at the Arts Block to see a long line of imbibers waiting at the cider saloon.

    Blog text (2)
  • I rested one foot on the brass rail, in imitation of my fellow imbibers, but the stance felt too unsteady, and I moved off to a small empty table.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • At the pub, we noticed several imbibers enjoying their drinks as they watched the game.

  • As an avid imbiber, she always looked forward to trying new cocktails at the bar.

Synonyms

alcoholic
vsimbiber
222 3.3

A person who is addicted to alcohol

covers heavy drinking but not necessarily the loss of control or dependence
drunk
vsimbiber
  • Informal
137 3.5

A person who has too much alcohol in their body, either now or often

focuses on regular heavy drinking overall rather than current intoxication
drinker
vsimbiber
83 1.8

A person who often drinks alcohol

is focused on drinking alcohol and often doing so in large amounts
drunkard
vsimbiber
17 5.5

A person who often drinks too much alcohol

is the general label for heavy alcohol consumption without implying community notice
lush
vsimbiber
  • Offensive
6 7.9

A person who often drinks too much alcohol

is the general term for heavy drinking without stressing duration
boozer
vsimbiber
  • Offensive
3 9.4

A person who often drinks too much alcohol

is similar but emphasises heavy drinking rather than casual social use
sot
vsimbiber
  • Offensive
2 9.9

A person who often drinks too much alcohol

describes heavy drinking in general rather than the chronic medical pattern
juicer
vsimbiber
  • Informal
2 8.8

A person who regularly drinks large amounts of alcohol

is the broader, more neutral description of heavy alcohol consumption
souse
vsimbiber
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who drinks too much alcohol most of the time

is broader, covering heavy drinking whether habitual or occasional excess
rummy
vsimbiber
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A person who drinks alcohol too much

is the general heavy drinking term without implying addiction
guzzler
vsimbiber
  • Informal
1 7.7

A person who drinks large amounts of alcohol very quickly

specifies alcohol and excess rather than any rapid or greedy liquid drinking
inebriate
vsimbiber
  • Offensive
1 9.8

A person who often drinks too much alcohol

is the broader term for heavy alcohol consumption without medical tone
dipsomaniac
vsimbiber
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A person who cannot stop drinking alcohol

refers more generally to heavy drinking without stressing uncontrollable craving
soaker
vsimbiber
  • Offensive
1 9.2

A person who often drinks too much alcohol

is broader and can include heavy drinking without the greedy behaviour
swiller
vsimbiber
  • Offensive
1 8.6

A person who drinks too much alcohol

is limited to alcohol consumption without the general greedy eating sense
alco
vsimbiber
  • Offensive
1 9.9

A slang word for alcohol or a person who drinks too much

is the specific label for a person who drinks alcohol heavily
toper
vsimbiber
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who often drinks too much alcohol

is similar but highlights large amounts not only habitual excess
likker
vsimbiber
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who drinks alcohol too often and gets drunk

is the neutral term for heavy alcohol consumption without informal tone
quaffer
vsimbiber
  • Archaic
9.8

A person who drinks a lot of alcohol and enjoys it

is similar but stresses general heavy consumption rather than spirited drinking
two-fisted drinker
vsimbiber
  • Slang
9.3

A person who drinks a lot of alcohol quickly

focuses on drinking alcohol heavily but not on drinking speed or style
winebibber
vsimbiber
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who drinks too much wine

covers heavy drinking of alcohol generally, not only wine
town drunkard
vsimbiber
  • Offensive
8.1

A person in a town who often drinks too much and people know it

is the general heavy drinking label without the local reputation aspect
total pisshead
vsimbiber
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who drinks too much alcohol

is a neutral heavy drinking term without the strong insulting tone
shitguzzler
vsimbiber
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who drinks a lot of beer or other alcoholic drinks until very drunk

is the neutral description for heavy alcohol consumption without vulgarity
expensive drunk
vsimbiber
  • Offensive
9.9

A person who drinks too much and always buys expensive alcohol

is focused on heavy drinking without implying high spending habits
shikker
vsimbiber
  • NSFW
9.9

A person who often drinks too much alcohol

is the factual heavy drinking description without the dialectal wording

Antonyms

5 7.5

A person who never drinks alcohol

How Much

alcoholic
222 3.3
imbiber
1 8.4
drinker
83 1.8
nondrinker
1 4.8

Surface Forms

imbiber singular
imbibers plural

Morphology

imbiber = imbibe (transparent) = imbibe + er

The agentive suffix '-er' is productively added to the verb 'imbibe' to form 'imbiber' meaning 'one who imbibes', a straightforward derivation.

Etymology

The word imbiber comes from the verb imbibe, which is made of im- 'in' and bibere 'to drink'. So, an imbiber is someone who 'drinks', which is why the word is used for a person who drinks a lot of alcohol.