drinking

verb

present participle of drink
1
as in sipping
to swallow in liquid form the doctor wants her to drink lots of water before the examination

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in boozing
to partake excessively of alcoholic beverages we're worried that she's started drinking again

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in absorbing
to take in (something liquid) through small openings the hot surface of the porous rock drank water like a sponge

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of drinking Many consumers are drinking less or buying ready-to-drink beverages such as beer and canned cocktails. — Lizzie Kane, Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2026 The result was 90% of farmers in the country living in poverty with virtually all of them drinking unclean water. — Adam Duxter, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026 Several endocrinologists who spoke to Parade said drinking coffee before breakfast can trigger a deep energy dip by noon. — Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2026 Cheng told Hackensack Meridian Health that drinking caffeine during this window can temporarily raise cortisol even further, potentially contributing to feelings of anxiety or restlessness. — Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026 We were surrounded by a handful of bro-looking guys in Arc'teryx vests and Peter Millar quarter zips, mostly drinking beer and whiskey. — Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026 Blair attributed the incident to drinking a glass of wine and taking a pill. — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 13 Oct. 2026 In one court proceeding, now infamous online, she is seen adjusting what appears to be a fake pregnancy belly and drinking from a large Monster Energy can. — Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 13 Oct. 2026 During Prohibition, the federal government required industrial alcohol to contain toxic additives to discourage people from drinking it, according to the Smithsonian Channel. — Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for drinking
  1. sipping
  2. boozing
  3. absorbing
  4. gulping
  5. swallowing
  6. imbibing
Verb
  • In the spring summer, the space extends to a patio outside, called Dehors, perfect for sipping on Campari spritzes and watching the bustle of Milan go by.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026
  • That's because the path is now clear on all drinking, sipping, chugging and shotgunning beverages in the NFL.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of sipping
Verb
  • Still, Garance’s death stare into the void, where this woman is still hard-boozing 90 minutes into the movie, starts to run its premise thin despite Exarchopoulos’ terrific and totally internalized turn.
    — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 17 May 2026
  • Ferrara makes no bones about the catastrophic consequences of so much boozing and chasing the dragon on his personal life and finances.
    — Nick Pinkerton, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Definition of boozing
Verb
  • Otherwise, a project can appear affordable because employees are silently absorbing part of its cost.
    — Hani Assi, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • For example, heavy elements are better at absorbing heat from the core, which affects the size of a star’s convective layer.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of absorbing
Verb
  • Others can’t stand the sound of gulping.
    — Sloane Crosley, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
  • This viral anti-slip slow feeder lick bowl helps prevent gulping and bloating, while keeping your dogs entertained for longer with a healthy, fun challenge.
    — Kasey Caminiti, USA Today, 25 May 2026
Definition of gulping
Verb
  • By institutional convention, such a show would unfold chronologically; but as its curator, the Native designer Brian Johnson, notes, time is a snake swallowing its own tail.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The Medicare Advantage and D-SNP list drops authorization for speech and language treatment, group speech treatment, swallowing dysfunction and spinal chiropractic manipulation.
    — JP Montoya, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of swallowing
Verb
  • Reading these books is imbibing the Word of God, revealing Christ, which lights up our lives, illuminating the true idea of God as Love, and man as Love’s expression.
    — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Food and drink Opening four spots for dining and imbibing in an area as gastronomically oversaturated as this is a punchy move.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of imbibing

Browse Nearby Words

drink (in)
drinking
drinking (in)
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Cite this Entry

“Drinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/drinking. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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