drenched

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

drench /drɛntʃ/   v. [~ + object]

1. to wet thoroughly;
   soak:
   I was drenched after the walk in the rain.
2. to cover or fill completely;
   bathe:
   sunlight drenching the trees.

drench•ing, adj.: 

a drenching rainfall.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

drench  (drench), v.t. 

1. to wet thoroughly;
   soak.
2. to saturate by immersion in a liquid;
   steep.
3. to cover or fill completely;
   bathe:
   trees drenched with sunlight.
4. [Vet. Med.] to administer a draft of medicine to (an animal), esp. by force:
   to drench a horse.
5. [Archaic.] to cause to drink.

n. 

6. the act of drenching.
7. something that drenches:
   a drench of rain.
8. a preparation for drenching or steeping.
9. Clothing a solution, esp. one of fermenting bran, for drenching hides or skins.
10. a large drink or draft.
11. a draft of medicine, esp. one administered to an animal by force.
12. Botany [Hort.] a mixture of pesticide and water applied to the soil surrounding a plant.

• bef. 900; Middle English drenchen, Old English drencan, causative of drincan to drink; cognate with Dutch drenken, German tränken to water, give to drink

drench′er, n. 
drench′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. See wet. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

drench / drɛntʃ/ verb (transitive)

1. to make completely wet; soak
2. to give liquid medicine to (an animal), esp by force

noun

1. the act or an instance of drenching
2. a dose of liquid medicine given to an animal

Etymology: Old English drencan to cause to drink; related to Old High German trenken

ˈdrenching noun , adjective