1
as in sipping
to swallow in liquid form
the doctor wants her to drink lots of water before the examination
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in boozing
to partake excessively of alcoholic beverages
we're worried that she's started drinking again
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in absorbing
to take in (something liquid) through small openings
the hot surface of the porous rock drank water like a sponge
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of drinking
Jude, a 12-year-old who gets injured in a firework accident, had been drinking with older kids while dealing with instability at home.
—
Jonathan Hunt-Glassman, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
Patricia explains the process and reminds the woman that drinking coffee before the screening can affect the results.
—Lisa Hughes, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Seven hours of blissful, undisturbed snoozing could very well involve limiting caffeine intake, drinking chamomile tea and avoiding blue light before bedtime.
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
The Eagles credited their stamina in their 41 to 14 victory to drinking pickle juice, which helped prevent dehydration and muscle cramps.
—Literary Hub, 31 Mar. 2026
Caffeine is a mild diuretic, which means drinking large amounts of caffeinated coffee can increase urination and lead to a loss of certain nutrients.
—Ayesha Gulzar, Verywell Health, 31 Mar. 2026
In some people, prune juice can be fast-acting and cause a bowel movement within a few hours of drinking it.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 31 Mar. 2026
However, hyponatremia, a condition that results from drinking too much water and effectively diluting the sodium content of your blood, can actually be far more dangerous.
—Brad Stulberg, Outside, 26 Mar. 2026
She was then caught drinking a shake the next day, in London.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 24 Mar. 2026
Jonathan Hunt-Glassman, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2026
Patricia explains the process and reminds the woman that drinking coffee before the screening can affect the results.
—Lisa Hughes, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Seven hours of blissful, undisturbed snoozing could very well involve limiting caffeine intake, drinking chamomile tea and avoiding blue light before bedtime.
—Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
The Eagles credited their stamina in their 41 to 14 victory to drinking pickle juice, which helped prevent dehydration and muscle cramps.
—Literary Hub, 31 Mar. 2026
Caffeine is a mild diuretic, which means drinking large amounts of caffeinated coffee can increase urination and lead to a loss of certain nutrients.
—Ayesha Gulzar, Verywell Health, 31 Mar. 2026
In some people, prune juice can be fast-acting and cause a bowel movement within a few hours of drinking it.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 31 Mar. 2026
However, hyponatremia, a condition that results from drinking too much water and effectively diluting the sodium content of your blood, can actually be far more dangerous.
—Brad Stulberg, Outside, 26 Mar. 2026
She was then caught drinking a shake the next day, in London.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 24 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drinking
Verb
-
These are the public spaces that guests mill about in—sipping a berry cooler at the long bar, enjoying a glass of malbec and a read by the stove, or playing monopoly at the communal table.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Apr. 2026
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Rewarding yourself for completing a chore could involve sipping an iced latte while reorganizing your closet or cleaning for 20 minutes, then allowing a 5-minute social media scroll.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Ferrara makes no bones about the catastrophic consequences of so much boozing and chasing the dragon on his personal life and finances.—
Nick Pinkerton,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
-
At the same time, unlike other artists of the bro-country ilk, Aldean personally refrained from boozing it up throughout the show, waiting to pull out a red Solo cup with a shot of tequila in it until there were just 11 minutes left in a set that ran 97.—
Theoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
With the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline topping a multiyear high of $4 a gallon, according to AAA, inflation-weary commuters are having a tough time absorbing the energy shock.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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Florida nonprofit Veterans Cannabis Care addresses this directly, absorbing 100% of both physician and state certification fees for qualifying veterans.—
Peter Su,
Rolling Stone,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This viral anti-slip slow feeder lick bowl helps prevent gulping and bloating, while keeping your dogs entertained for longer with a healthy, fun challenge.—
Kasey Caminiti,
USA Today,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Yes, gulping the liquid the night before was an ordeal — try drinking three liters of anything in three hours, going to sleep, then waking up six hours later for one final liter.—
Gustavo Arellano,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Speech-language pathologists work with people who have disorders involving speech, language and swallowing, sometimes from injuries, medical conditions or developmental delays.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
-
When a pet bites into the plant, those crystals embed in mouth tissue, which explains why oral irritation and swallowing difficulty are the primary symptoms.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
One need not be a fan of marijuana to realize the dangers of stripping constitutional rights from Americans for imbibing legal products.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
14 Mar. 2026
-
The poll also suggested that members of Gen Z, those born between 1997 and 2012, were imbibing far less than the generations that preceded them, reinforcing a wealth of anecdotal evidence from bar and club owners that twentysomethings just aren’t enamored of drinking culture.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
1 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Drinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drinking. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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