soak
I like to soak my feet in warm water after a long day.
The action of placing feet in water to relax or clean them.
To immerse something in a liquid for a period of time
She left the dirty dishes to soak in hot soapy water.
Cleaning dishes by leaving them in water to soften food residue.
The chef soaks the beans overnight to soften them.
Preparing ingredients by immersing them in liquid before cooking.
Can also imply absorbing a liquid (e.g., 'The sponge soaks up water quickly.').
To saturate or fill completely with a liquid or quality
The rain soaks the ground, making it muddy.
Liquid penetrates fully into a surface.
His shirt was soaked with sweat after the workout.
Completely filled with moisture.
Often used figuratively (e.g., 'soaked in tradition').
To absorb or take in a liquid or information
The fabric soaks up the spilled wine.
Absorbs liquid quickly.
He soaks up knowledge like a sponge.
Absorbs information eagerly.
Common in informal contexts for learning or absorption.
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoid confusion with 'soak up'
'Soak' alone implies immersion, while 'soak up' emphasizes absorption. E.g., 'soak the sponge in water' vs. 'soak up the spilled milk.'
Gold Rule
Context matters for meaning
In cooking, 'soak' means softening; in weather, it describes saturation; in learning, it implies eager absorption.
Word Origin
Old English 'sōcan' (to soak), from Proto-Germanic '*sōkijaną', related to 'sugan' (to suck). Cognate with Dutch 'zoeken' (to seek) and German 'suchen' (to search), though the modern meaning diverged.
Usage Notes
Common in cooking (soaking beans), cleaning (soaking dishes), and informal contexts (soaking up the sun). Can be transitive or intransitive.