imbue

verb

im·bue | \ im-ˈbyü

imbued; imbuing

Definition of imbue

transitive verb

1 : endow sense 3 Spanish missions imbue the city with Old World charm— Scott Pendleton

2 : to permeate or influence as if by dyeing the spirit that imbues the new constitution

3 : to tinge or dye deeply

Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym Imbue Has Old French Roots More Example Sentences Learn More about imbue

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Choose the Right Synonym for imbue

infuse, suffuse, imbue, ingrain, inoculate, leaven mean to introduce one thing into another so as to affect it throughout. infuse implies a pouring in of something that gives new life or significance. new members infused enthusiasm into the club suffuse implies a spreading through of something that gives an unusual color or quality. a room suffused with light imbue implies the introduction of a quality that fills and permeates the whole being. imbue students with intellectual curiosity ingrain, used only in the passive or past participle, suggests the deep implanting of a quality or trait. clung to ingrained habits inoculate implies an imbuing or implanting with a germinal idea and often suggests stealth or subtlety. an electorate inoculated with dangerous ideas leaven implies introducing something that enlivens, tempers, or markedly alters the total quality. a serious play leavened with comic moments

Imbue Has Old French Roots

Like its synonym infuse, imbue implies the introduction of one thing into another so as to affect it throughout. A nation can be imbued with pride, for example, or a photograph might be imbued with a sense of melancholy. In the past imbue has also been used synonymously with imbrue, an obscure word meaning "to drench or stain," but etymologists do not think the two words are related. Imbue derives from the Latin verb imbuere, meaning "to dye, wet, or moisten." Imbrue has been traced back through Anglo-French and Old French to the Latin verb bibere, meaning "to drink."

Examples of imbue in a Sentence

A feeling of optimism imbues her works. her training at the school for the deaf imbued her with a sense of purpose that she had never known before

Recent Examples on the Web

Adequately rewarding caring in markets, communities, and households will also imbue work with meaning—something often lacking in domination systems, where it is primarily motivated by fear and the artificial creation of scarcity. — Riane Eisler, Quartz, "The fight between capitalism and socialism will be won by a totally different “ism”," 29 Aug. 2019 This is a movie that can be read on many different levels, from a simple family comedy to an action movie imbued with philosophy to a genuine war of political principles that manages to pack in some great sight gags. — Allegra Frank, Vox, "All 21 Pixar movies, definitively ranked," 27 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'imbue.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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More Definitions for imbue

imbue

verb

English Language Learners Definition of imbue

: to cause (someone or something) to be deeply affected by a feeling or to have a certain quality

See the full definition for imbue in the English Language Learners Dictionary

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imbue

Definition of imbue

Synonyms for imbue

Choose the Right Synonym for imbue

Imbue Has Old French Roots

Examples of imbue in a Sentence

First Known Use of imbue

History and Etymology for imbue

English Language Learners Definition of imbue

imbue

Definition of imbue

Synonyms for imbue

Choose the Right Synonym for imbue

Imbue Has Old French Roots

Examples of imbue in a Sentence

First Known Use of imbue

History and Etymology for imbue

English Language Learners Definition of imbue

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