Explanation at your level:
To drink means to swallow water or other liquids. You do this when you are thirsty. For example, 'I drink water every day.' It is a very important word for your daily life.
You use drink for many liquids like coffee, tea, or milk. You can say 'I would like to drink some orange juice.' It is a regular part of your routine. Remember, the past tense is drank. 'I drank tea this morning.'
At this level, you start using drink in social situations. 'Would you like to go out for a drink?' is a common invitation. You also learn the difference between 'drink' as a verb and 'a drink' as a noun. It is very common to hear people say 'I'm trying to drink more water' to stay healthy.
You can now use drink with more nuance. You might say 'I drank in the atmosphere of the city,' which is a figurative way to say you enjoyed it deeply. You also understand the social implications of saying 'He drinks,' which often refers to alcohol consumption.
In advanced English, drink is used in various idiomatic ways. You might 'drink in' knowledge or 'drink to' a success. It appears in formal contexts, such as 'drinking water quality' or 'drinking habits' in academic reports. You can distinguish between the literal act and the metaphorical consumption of ideas or experiences.
At the mastery level, drink can be used in literary or poetic contexts. Think of 'drinking deep from the cup of life.' You understand the historical weight of the word and its various registers, from the stark, simple verb to complex idiomatic structures. You can manipulate the word to convey subtle meanings about consumption, obsession, or celebration.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Basic verb for liquid intake.
- Irregular conjugation: drink/drank/drunk.
- Used in social and health contexts.
- Essential for daily communication.
The verb drink is one of the most fundamental actions we perform daily. At its core, it simply means to swallow a liquid. Whether it is a refreshing glass of water after a run or a warm cup of tea on a rainy day, we use this word to describe the process of hydration.
Beyond basic survival, drink often carries social connotations. In many cultures, inviting someone to 'have a drink' is a common way to suggest a social meeting. It is a versatile word that fits into almost every aspect of human life, from the biological necessity of staying alive to the cultural rituals of celebration.
The word drink has deep roots in history, tracing back to the Old English word drincan. It belongs to the Germanic family of languages, sharing a common ancestor with the Old High German trinkan and the Dutch drinken.
Historically, the word has always been associated with the act of consuming liquid. Interestingly, in ancient times, the distinction between 'drinking' as a survival act and 'drinking' as an act of intoxication was less defined. Over centuries, the word evolved to encompass both the simple biological function and the specific social behavior of consuming alcohol, which is why we sometimes say someone 'drinks' to imply they consume alcohol regularly.
You will use drink in many different contexts. In casual conversation, you might say, 'I need a drink,' which usually implies water or a soft drink. However, in a social context, it often implies alcohol.
Common collocations include 'drink water,' 'drink coffee,' or 'drink juice.' When you want to be more formal, you might use verbs like 'consume' or 'imbibe,' but drink remains the standard, natural choice for everyday English. Remember that it is an irregular verb: the past tense is drank, and the past participle is drunk.
Idioms make language colorful! Here are five common ones:
- Drink like a fish: To drink a lot of alcohol.
- Drink in: To absorb something with great interest (e.g., 'She drank in the beautiful view').
- Drink the Kool-Aid: To blindly accept a set of beliefs.
- Drink to someone's health: To toast someone's well-being.
- You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink: You can offer help, but you can't force someone to take it.
As a verb, drink is irregular. The conjugation is: drink (present), drank (past), and drunk (past participle). Pronunciation is straightforward: /drɪŋk/ in both British and American English.
It rhymes with words like sink, pink, link, wink, and brink. When using it in a sentence, it is usually a transitive verb, meaning it needs an object, like 'I drink water.' You can also use it intransitively, as in 'He doesn't drink,' which usually means he avoids alcohol.
Fun Fact
It shares roots with the word 'drench'.
Pronunciation Guide
Short 'i' sound, clear 'k' at the end.
Similar to UK, slightly more rhotic.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing 'dr' as 'j'
- Dropping the 'k' sound
- Confusing 'i' with 'e'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
easy
easy
easy
easy
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Irregular Verbs
drink-drank-drunk
Subject-Verb Agreement
He drinks
Phrasal Verbs
drink up
Examples by Level
I drink water.
I swallow water
Simple present
She drinks milk.
She swallows milk
Third person s
We drink juice.
We swallow juice
Subject verb
Do you drink tea?
Question about tea
Question form
I want to drink.
I need liquid
Infinitive
They drink coffee.
They swallow coffee
Present tense
He drank water.
Past action
Past tense
Please drink this.
Offer liquid
Imperative
I usually drink coffee in the morning.
She drank all the juice yesterday.
We are drinking lemonade on the porch.
He has drunk three glasses of water.
They like to drink hot chocolate.
Can I drink this water?
We will drink tea later.
She drinks a lot of water at work.
Would you like to go out for a drink tonight?
He has been drinking a lot of water for his health.
I could really drink a cold soda right now.
They drank to the success of the project.
She doesn't drink alcohol at all.
We sat and drank in the beautiful view.
The athlete drank a sports drink after the race.
He drank the coffee even though it was cold.
He drinks like a fish at parties.
She drank in every word the speaker said.
We should drink to our new partnership.
The team drank the champagne in celebration.
He has a tendency to drink when he is stressed.
They drank deep from the well of knowledge.
I need a drink to calm my nerves.
She drank down the medicine quickly.
The company is known for its drinking water filtration systems.
He drank in the silence of the forest.
They drank to the memory of their friend.
The culture of drinking tea is central to their tradition.
He was drinking in the scenery during the hike.
They drank the situation in with curiosity.
She drank a toast to the bride and groom.
The fountain provides safe drinking water.
He drank of the cup of bitterness during his exile.
She drank in the wisdom of the ancient texts.
They drank to a future of prosperity.
The social act of drinking is a complex ritual.
He drank down the truth with difficulty.
The poet drank in the moonlight.
They drank the night away in the city.
She drank deep of the experience.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"drink like a fish"
to drink a lot of alcohol
He drinks like a fish at weddings.
casual"drink in"
to absorb or enjoy something
They drank in the music.
neutral"drink to someone's health"
to wish someone well
Let's drink to her health!
formal"drink the Kool-Aid"
to blindly follow
He drank the Kool-Aid of the new movement.
casual"drink up"
to finish a drink
Drink up, it's time to go.
casual"drink someone under the table"
to drink more than someone else
He tried to drink his friend under the table.
casualEasily Confused
similar sound
drown is to be underwater, drink is to swallow liquid
He drank water, he didn't drown.
past tense confusion
drank is past, drink is present
I drink now, I drank then.
past participle confusion
drunk is participle or adjective
I have drunk, he is drunk.
rhyme confusion
sink is to go down, drink is to swallow
The ship will sink, I will drink.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + drink + object
I drink water.
Subject + drink + from + noun
She drinks from a cup.
Subject + drink + to + noun
We drink to success.
Subject + drink + in + noun
He drank in the scene.
Subject + drink + up
They drank up their coffee.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
10
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
Drink is an irregular verb.
Past participle is drunk.
Third person singular needs 's'.
Use 'from' for source.
Use noun agent.
Tips
Memory Palace
Imagine a giant glass of water in your kitchen.
Social Invitations
Use 'Let's get a drink' for friends.
Pub Culture
In the UK, 'a drink' often means a beer.
Irregular Forms
Remember the sequence: drink-drank-drunk.
Clear K
Don't mute the 'k' at the end.
No 'Drinked'
Never use 'drinked'.
Survival
Humans can live longer without food than water.
Labeling
Label your water bottle with the word.
Transitive Usage
Usually requires an object.
Rhyming
Rhyme it with 'think' to get the vowel right.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
D-R-I-N-K: Down Refreshing Ingredients Now Keep-hydrated.
Visual Association
A cold glass of water with ice.
Word Web
Challenge
Say 'I drink water' every time you take a sip today.
Word Origin
Old English
Original meaning: To swallow liquid
Cultural Context
Be careful with alcohol references.
Commonly used in social invitations.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
at a restaurant
- What would you like to drink?
- I'll have a drink.
- Is there a drink menu?
at home
- Drink your milk.
- I need a drink of water.
- Did you drink enough?
socializing
- Let's go for a drink.
- Can I buy you a drink?
- Do you want a drink?
health
- Drink plenty of water.
- Stay hydrated.
- Avoid sugary drinks.
Conversation Starters
"What is your favorite drink?"
"Do you drink coffee or tea in the morning?"
"How much water do you drink a day?"
"Do you like to go out for a drink with friends?"
"What is the most refreshing drink you have ever had?"
Journal Prompts
Describe your favorite drink and why you like it.
Write about a time you were very thirsty.
Why is it important to drink water?
How does your culture treat the act of drinking?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, it is irregular: drink, drank, drunk.
No, only for liquids.
It means to finish your drink.
Yes, it can be a noun (e.g., 'a cold drink').
It implies he consumes alcohol regularly.
Sip is drinking slowly.
No, it's salty.
Yes, in hospitality or health contexts.
Test Yourself
I ___ water when I am thirsty.
Subject-verb agreement.
What is the past tense of drink?
Irregular verb form.
You can 'drink in' a view.
Figurative usage.
Word
Meaning
Idiom meanings.
Standard word order.
Score: /5
Summary
Drink is the simple, essential action of taking liquid into your body, used in everything from basic survival to social celebration.
- Basic verb for liquid intake.
- Irregular conjugation: drink/drank/drunk.
- Used in social and health contexts.
- Essential for daily communication.
Memory Palace
Imagine a giant glass of water in your kitchen.
Social Invitations
Use 'Let's get a drink' for friends.
Pub Culture
In the UK, 'a drink' often means a beer.
Irregular Forms
Remember the sequence: drink-drank-drunk.
Example
I drink every day.
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