# soak

/ˈsoʊk/ (US) · /sˈəʊk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/soak
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. to make very wet

verb · CEFR B1

to leave something in liquid for a long time until it is completely wet.

For teachers: to immerse an object in liquid until it is thoroughly saturated or permeated.

- You should soak the dried beans in water overnight before you cook them.
- The archaeologist advised us to soak the encrusted artifacts in a mild saline solution to loosen the sediment without damaging the surface.

### 2. to absorb liquid

verb · CEFR B1

to take in or suck up liquid, usually with 'up'.

For teachers: to absorb or take in liquid through pores or interstices; frequently functions as a phrasal verb with 'up'.

- Use a paper towel to soak up the milk you spilled on the table.
- The dry earth began to soak up the torrential rain, preventing the immediate runoff that usually leads to flash flooding.

Usage: Often used with the particle 'up'.

### 3. to overcharge

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal

to make someone pay way too much money.

For teachers: to overcharge or extort a large amount of money from a person or group.

- The local shops really soak the tourists during the high season.
- Critics argued that the new tax policy was designed to soak the middle class while providing loopholes for the extremely wealthy.

### 4. a period of wetting

noun · CEFR B2

the act of leaving something in water for a while.

For teachers: the act or process of immersing something in liquid for a period of time.

- After a long day of hiking, a hot soak in the tub felt amazing.
- The recipe requires a twenty-minute soak in cold water to ensure the noodles reach the correct texture before frying.

### 5. a heavy drinker

noun · CEFR C2 · British English · Slang

a person who drinks too much alcohol very often.

For teachers: a habitual or heavy drinker of alcoholic beverages.

- The old soak spent every afternoon at the corner pub.
- He was known as a bit of an old soak, rarely seen without a glass of ale in his hand by mid-afternoon.

## Examples

- You should soak the beans in water overnight.
- After a long day of hiking, I like to soak my feet in warm water to relax.
- The chef recommends that you soak the wooden skewers for at least thirty minutes to prevent them from burning on the grill during the high-heat cooking process.

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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.