Word
partake
Phoneticspar·take, stress on the second syllable
US/pɑɹˈteɪk/
UK/pɑːtˈeɪk/
Irregular verb
Forms
Infinitive
partake
Past
partook
Past participle
partaken
Definitions
01to participate
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to join in an activity or event with other people.
v. to join in or participate in an activity. Intransitive; usually takes the preposition 'in'.
“Visitors are invited to partake in the traditional dances during the festival.”
“Although he was a reserved man, he felt compelled to partake in the local festivities to show his support for the community.”
Synonyms
02to eat or drink
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to eat or drink something, especially when it is offered to you.
v. to consume a portion of food or drink. Intransitive; usually takes the preposition 'of'.
“Would you like to partake of some refreshments before the meeting starts?”
“The guests were encouraged to partake of the buffet, which featured a wide array of regional delicacies.”
03to have a quality
C2 · Proficiency Formal · Literary
v. to have some of the qualities or characteristics of something else.
v. to possess a certain quality, nature, or character in common with something else.
“His style of writing seems to partake of both poetry and journalism.”
“The architecture of the new cathedral appeared to partake of both Gothic and modern minimalist influences.”
Usage
Intransitive; typically followed by the preposition 'in' for activities or 'of' for food and drink.
Pitfall
partake the meal
partake of the meal
When referring to food or drink, the verb requires the preposition 'of' rather than a direct object.
Real-World Examples
“The Nolan family made the trek from the Finger Lakes area of New York to partake in the fun of the superstar team playing in Toronto for the first time.” “More specifically, the visa is offered to those wishing to partake in "volunteer services in the framework of programmes pursuing public interest goals".” “The latter, Megan, played by wrestler, Liv Morgan, has been caught partaking in crack while travelling in Tokyo to study sushi.” Etymology
Back-formation from Middle English part-takinge, part-takynge (“a sharing; partaking”), a calque of Latin particeps (“participating”); equivalent to part + take. Compare take part. In the sense of taking a share or portion of something, displaced native Old English onbītan (“to taste of, to partake of”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/partake