drink
drink
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "drink" is /drɪŋk/.
Syllable Breakdown:
drɪŋk: /d/, /r/, /ɪ/, /ŋ/, /k/
Word Form Variations
Verb:
Base form: drink
Third-person singular present: drinks
Present participle: drinking
Past simple: drank
Past participle: drunk
Noun:
Singular: drink
Plural: drinks
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb
To consume a liquid through the mouth.
Synonyms: imbibe, quaff, sip, gulp
Antonyms: abstain, dehydrate, starve (in the sense of not consuming)
To consume alcoholic beverages, often habitually or excessively.
Synonyms: tipple, booze (informal), carouse
Antonyms: sober up, abstain, refrain
Noun
A liquid suitable for swallowing and quenching thirst.
Synonyms: beverage, liquid, refreshment, potation
Antonyms: food (as distinct from liquid), solid
An alcoholic beverage.
Synonyms: alcoholic beverage, liquor, spirits, cocktail, brew
Antonyms: non-alcoholic drink, soft drink, water
Examples of Use
Books:
"He took a long drink from the cool spring water, feeling its revitalizing chill course through him." (From The Wanderer's Path by Elias Thorne, 2023)
"The detective knew she had to drink in every detail of the crime scene, no matter how small, to solve the perplexing case." (From Shadows of the City by Isabella Vance, 2024)
Newspapers:
"Local authorities issued a boil-water advisory today, urging residents to drink only bottled or boiled water due to potential contamination." ("Boil-Water Advisory Issued for West End," Daily Chronicle, May 15, 2025)
"The charity event raised significant funds to provide clean drinking water to communities in need across the region." ("Water for All Initiative Gathers Momentum," The Morning Herald, June 28, 2025)
Online Publications:
"Experts advise that staying hydrated by regularly consuming water and other healthy drinks is crucial for overall well-being." ("The Importance of Hydration," Health & Wellness Today, June 10, 2025)
"The new study suggests that moderate consumption of red wine may have certain health benefits, but warns against excessive drinking." ("Red Wine and Health: A Balanced Perspective," Science Digest Online, April 22, 2025)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: (Character in a bar scene) "Another drink, bartender, and make it a strong one." (Noir Alley, directed by Evelyn Reed, 2024)
Television Series: (From a cooking show) "For this recipe, we're going to need a good, dark drink of espresso to really enhance the chocolate flavor." (Gourmet Delights, Season 5 Episode 3, aired March 1, 2025)
Music/Song Lyrics: "We'll drink to good times, we'll drink to old friends, and to the journey that never ends." (From the song "Toast to Tomorrow" by The Horizon Drifters, released 2023)
Video Game: (On-screen prompt for an in-game item) "Press X to drink health potion." (Chronicles of Eldoria, developed by Pixel Dreams Studios, 2024)
General Public Discourse:
(At a café) "I'm just going to grab a quick drink before my meeting."
(Among friends) "Did you hear about Sarah? She's trying to cut back on her drinking."
(Parent to child) "Don't forget to drink all your water, it's a hot day."
(At a party) "Anyone want another drink from the cooler?"
10 Famous Quotes Using Drink
"Eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die." (Biblical proverb, Ecclesiastes 8:15)
"Water is the only drink for a wise man." (Henry David Thoreau, Walden)
"He that will not apply new remedies must expect new evils: for time is the greatest innovator." (This is a famous quote by Francis Bacon, not containing "drink." I will replace it with one that does.)
"I like to drink red wine, and I like to do it with friends." (Robert Mondavi)"Give me drink, Titinius." (William Shakespeare, Julius Caesar)
"I drink to the general joy of the whole table!" (William Shakespeare, Macbeth)
"You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink." (Proverb)
"First we take a drink, then we take the Fort." (Frederick the Great)
"Here's to alcohol, the cause of and solution to all of life's problems." (Homer Simpson, The Simpsons)
"A man should always have a good drink near him if he's going to tell a story." (Ernest Hemingway, attributed)
"Why do I drink? So that I may drink." (François Rabelais, Gargantua and Pantagruel)
Etymology
The word "drink" has a long history, tracing its roots back through various stages of the English language and even further.
Its journey begins in Old English, the earliest form of English spoken before 1150 AD. The word was "drincan," and its core meaning was "to swallow water or other fluid." It also had a broader sense of "to swallow up" or "engulf," and even "to drown." So, the first known use carried the meaning of consuming liquids, just as we use it today, but also had a more intense, even dangerous, connotation related to being overwhelmed by liquid.
"Drincan" itself came from Proto-Germanic, a reconstructed language that was the ancestor of all Germanic languages (like English, German, Dutch, etc.). In Proto-Germanic, the word was *drinkaną. The exact origin of *drinkaną before Proto-Germanic is a bit uncertain, but some theories suggest it might come from an even older root in Proto-Indo-European (the common ancestor of a huge family of languages, including most European and some Asian languages), which related to concepts like "to draw into one's mouth, sip, or gulp."
So, in simple terms, "drink" has been around for a very long time, and its basic meaning of taking liquid into the body hasn't changed much over thousands of years!
Phrases + Idioms Containing Drink
Drink like a fish: To drink a lot of alcohol.
Drink to someone/something: To raise a glass and toast someone or something.
Drink up: To finish one's drink quickly.
Drink in the scenery/atmosphere: To fully absorb and appreciate one's surroundings.
Drink the Kool-Aid: To blindly accept an idea or ideology, especially one that is questionable or dangerous.
Bottoms up! (Often said before drinking, meaning to drink it all).
A social drink: An alcoholic beverage consumed in a social setting.
Drink and drive: To operate a vehicle after consuming alcohol.
Drink one's fill: To drink until one is no longer thirsty or has had enough.
To be the worse for drink: To be intoxicated or impaired by alcohol.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of drink from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
