# drenched

/ˈdɹɛntʃt/ (US) · /dɹˈɛntʃt/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/drenched
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

completely wet. You use this when someone or something is soaked through, usually by rain or water.

For teachers: completely soaked or saturated with liquid. Often used predicatively after linking verbs like 'become' or 'get'.

## Examples

- I forgot my umbrella and arrived home drenched.
- The sudden summer storm caught the hikers in the open, leaving them drenched before they could reach the shelter.
- The heavy curtains were drenched by the rain blowing through the open window, making them heavy and difficult to pull shut against the wind.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I am very drench" but "I am very drenched" — Learners sometimes use the base verb 'drench' instead of the participial adjective 'drenched' to describe their state.

## Usage notes

- Often followed by the preposition 'in' or 'with' (e.g., 'drenched in sweat', 'drenched with rain').

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.