# soaking

/ˈsoʊkɪŋ/ (US) · /sˈəʊkɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/soaking
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. extremely wet

adjective · CEFR B2

completely wet, all the way through.

For teachers: extremely wet; saturated to the point of being unable to absorb more liquid.

- We got caught in the storm and our clothes were soaking by the time we got home.
- The hikers arrived at the mountain hut with soaking boots and heavy spirits after navigating the flooded trail for six hours.

### 2. heavy rain

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

heavy rain that goes deep into the ground.

For teachers: describing rain that is heavy and persistent enough to penetrate deeply into the soil.

- The garden really needed a soaking rain after the long, dry summer.
- The agricultural report noted that a soaking rain would be necessary to restore moisture levels to the subsoil before the planting season began.

### 3. immersion in liquid

noun · CEFR B2

the act of leaving something in water for a long time.

For teachers: the act or process of immersing something in liquid for a period of time, often to clean it or soften it.

- The dirty pans need a good soaking in hot soapy water before you scrub them.
- The recipe requires a twenty-four-hour soaking of the dried beans to ensure they cook evenly and achieve the desired texture.

## Examples

- I got soaking wet in the rain.
- After falling into the pool with his clothes on, he stood on the deck dripping and soaking.
- The hikers arrived at the cabin with soaking boots and heavy spirits, having spent the entire afternoon navigating through a relentless mountain downpour.

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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.