Imbibe is a verb meaning to drink (especially alcohol) or to absorb or take in ideas or knowledge. It often implies ingesting fluids or absorbing insights with enjoyment and thoroughness. In practice, you imbibe when you drink or eagerly absorb information, experiences, or culture through learning and immersion.
"She went to the café to imbibe a quiet afternoon and a cappuccino."
"The expedition imbibed the local customs, language, and cuisine eagerly."
"Researchers imbibe the data from multiple sources before forming conclusions."
"Students imbibe the lecturer’s insights, then apply them in real-world scenarios."
Imbibe comes from Late Latin imbibere, from in- 'in' + bibere 'to drink'. The form evolved through Old French imbiber before entering Middle English. The core sense retained the idea of taking liquid into the body, but by the 18th–19th centuries the sense broadened metaphorically to mean taking in ideas, culture, or information. The pronunciation shifted over time with English vowel changes; today it’s pronounced with two syllables: im-bibe. First known use in English literature appears in the late 16th century, aligning with translations and borrowings from Latin and French where imbibere was common in medical and culinary contexts. The term gradually moved from literal drinking to figurative absorption in education and culture, mirroring a broader cultural emphasis on learning by immersion.
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Words that rhyme with "Imbibe"
-ibe sounds
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Pronounce as im- BIBE, with stress on the second syllable. IPA US: ɪmˈbaɪb. Start with a short, unstressed 'im' (ɪm), then a strong diphthong in the second syllable (aɪ), followed by a soft /b/ and final /b/ release. You’ll feel the tongue rise for the /aɪ/ and close slightly for the final /b/.
Common errors include stressing the first syllable (IM-bibe) or mispronouncing the second syllable as a simple short vowel rather than the /aɪ/ diphthong. Some speakers over-pronounce a long vowel after the /b/, producing im-BEEB. Correcting involves emphasizing the /aɪ/ diphthong in the second syllable and ending with a compact /b/ release.
In US/UK/AU, the word centers on the same /ˈbaɪb/ nucleus, but rhotic accents affect neighboring vowels. US often keeps a sharper /ɪm/ onset and a slightly more rounded /ˈbaɪb/; UK/AU share /ɪmˈbaɪb/ but may have subtler tongue positioning in /aɪ/ due to non-rhotic patterns influencing preceding consonants and intonation. The main difference lies in connected speech and vowel quality rather than phoneme set.
The difficulty comes from the two-phoneme nucleus /baɪ/ with a diphthong that glides from /a/ to /ɪ/ and the final /b/ closure. English learners often misplace the stress or misarticulate the /ɪ/ vs /aɪ/ boundary, producing im-ˈbib or im-ˈbeɪb. Focusing on the consistent /aɪ/ glide and tight final /b/ helps maintain accuracy in slow and natural speech.
A common unique concern is the potential misinterpretation of the second syllable as /biːb/ due to the final consonant cluster being light and not assimilating with an adjacent syllable in many registers. The correct sequence emphasizes the /aɪ/ diphthong and a closed /b/ release: im-ˈbaɪb. Keep your tongue tip near the alveolar ridge for the /t/less alveo-labial closure and avoid vowel elongation before the final /b/.
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