soak

//soʊk//

Verbs
B1

Translation

soak

Definition

To soak means to immerse something in liquid for a period of time, allowing it to become thoroughly wet or to absorb the liquid. This verb is commonly used in contexts like washing dishes, preparing food (e.g., beans or rice), or cleaning stained fabrics. For example, you might soak a dirty pan in soapy water to loosen food residue, or soak dried beans overnight to soften them before cooking. The action implies a deliberate and sustained contact with liquid, often to achieve a specific result like softening, cleaning, or marinating. In everyday language, 'soak' can also refer to the state of being very wet, as in 'I got soaked in the rain.'

Example

  • You should soak the beans overnight before cooking them.

  • She soaked the stained shirt in bleach for an hour.

  • The heavy rain soaked through my jacket and made me cold.

  • I like to soak in a hot bath after a long day at work.

  • The recipe says to soak the rice for 30 minutes before cooking.

  • He soaked the paintbrush in thinner to clean it.

  • The sponge soaked up all the spilled water on the counter.

  • We soaked the dried fruit in rum for the cake.

  • The towels were soaked after being left out in the rain.

  • She soaked her feet in warm water to relieve the pain.

Synonyms

drench
saturate
immerse
steep
submerge

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