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GRE vocabulary

imbibe

verbHigh-frequency wordMore I words

to absorb or assimilate ideas or knowledge, or to drink something, especially alcohol

Word origin: From Latin imbibere, to drink in, from in, in, plus bibere, to drink.

In a sentence

Imbibe in a sentence

Here are example sentences showing imbibe in a sentence.

Students who imbibe a love of learning early tend to excel throughout their academic careers.

As a student abroad she imbibed the customs of her host country as readily as its language.

Synonyms
absorbassimilateingest
Antonyms
expelrejectabstain
Usage & nuance

Using “imbibe” well

Imbibe means to absorb or take in, used both literally for drinking and figuratively for absorbing ideas or knowledge. The figurative sense, taking in influences and beliefs, is the one the GRE tends to test.

Common questions

Questions about “imbibe

Imbibe (verb) means to absorb or assimilate ideas or knowledge, or to drink something, especially alcohol
Here is imbibe used in an example sentence: "Students who imbibe a love of learning early tend to excel throughout their academic careers." Another example: "As a student abroad she imbibed the customs of her host country as readily as its language."
Common synonyms for imbibe include absorb, assimilate, ingest.
Antonyms of imbibe include expel, reject, abstain.
Clusters with absorb, assimilate, and ingest, opposed by expel, reject, and abstain. Watch for the figurative sense of soaking up ideas rather than the literal sense of drinking.
Yes. Imbibe is a high-frequency GRE word, so it is worth prioritising as you build your vocabulary.

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