Imbue
/ɪmˈbjuː/
verbC1
Definition
To imbue something means to put a strong feeling, idea, or quality into it so that it becomes part of it. This can be done to objects, people, or even thoughts. It often suggests that the feeling or quality is spread deeply and clearly.
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See It in Action
To fill something completely with a feeling or quality
- •The artist imbued her paintings with bright colors and strong emotions.
- •The speech was imbued with hope and determination.
- •His words imbued the team with confidence before the game.
To inspire or influence deeply
- •The teacher imbued her students with a love of learning.
- •The culture imbues people with respect for nature.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "imbue" like "fill," but instead of filling with water or air, you fill with feelings or ideas deeply inside.
- ✓Picture a cloth soaking in colorful dye—after some time, the color goes all through the cloth, not just on the surface.
- ✓It’s the feeling when a teacher fills your mind with a love for reading, making it part of who you are.
- ✓Sounds like "in-BEW" → imagine a bee (sounds like "bue") flying inside a flower, filling it with honey (sweetness inside).
- ✓In stories, heroes are often imbued with courage by magic or important lessons—they carry that courage inside them.
- ✓NOT like "cover" (only outside), imbue means the feeling or quality goes deep inside.
- ✓NOT like "teach" (just giving information), imbue means the feeling or idea becomes part of you deeply.
Try Other Words
- •Inspire: to make someone feel a strong emotion or idea (Use when the focus is on causing feelings or ideas inside a person)
- •Permeate: to spread through something completely (Use when describing something spreading all through, often physical or abstract)
- •Saturate: to fill completely, often with liquid or color (Use when emphasizing total filling, especially physical things)
Unboxing
- •Prefix: "im-" means "in" or "into," showing putting something inside
- •Root: "bue" from Latin "bibere" meaning "to drink," suggesting soaking or absorbing
- •Etymology: From Latin "imbuere," meaning to moisten or dye by soaking
- •Historical development: Originally used for dyeing cloth by soaking, later extended to feelings and ideas being deeply spread
- •Modern usage: Used mostly in formal or literary language to describe strong influence or deep filling of qualities or feelings
Reflect & Connect
•How can you imbue a place or object with meaning in your daily life?
•Can ideas or emotions be imbued without words? How do actions or art do this?
Fill in the blanks
1.The teacher imbued her students with ___ confidence and ___ a desire to learn more.
2.When an artist imbues a painting, the colors ___ deeply into the canvas.
3.Unlike just saying something, to imbue a feeling means to make it ___ part of a person or thing.
4.The speech was imbued ___ hope and courage, which made everyone feel stronger.
5.To imbue someone with respect, you must ___ examples they can follow.
6.The culture imbues its people ___ traditions that last many years.
7.When feelings are imbued, they are not just on the surface but ___ inside deeply.