Infuse
verb /ɪnˈfjuːz/ — To soak in liquid to extract flavour; to fill with a quality or feeling.
Definition
To soak or steep something in a liquid in order to extract its flavour or properties. More broadly, to pervade or fill with a quality, feeling, or idea. To infuse is to allow something to enter, gradually and completely.
Beyond the definition
Infusion requires patience. You cannot rush the moment when the tea releases into the water, when the vanilla pod gives up its seeds to the cream. The best flavours — like the best influences — take time to fully permeate.
Origin & history
Latin: 'infundere' (to pour in). From 'in' (into) + 'fundere' (to pour). The same root as 'confound', 'profuse', and 'foundry'.
Example sentences
Illustrative sentences for learning, not verified community posts or sourced quotations.
She infused the cream with lavender overnight, then used it to make something unforgettably fragrant.
Years of travel had infused his perspective with something she couldn't name but immediately recognised.
Steep the tea four minutes exactly — enough to infuse without becoming bitter.
How to use it
This entry uses a verb. Follow the examples for tense and any objects or prepositions it needs.
Choose “Infuse” when the meaning fits your context: To soak or steep something in a liquid in order to extract its flavour or properties. More broadly, to pervade or fill with a quality, feeling, or idea. To infuse is to allow something to enter, gradually and completely.
Synonyms
steep, permeate, imbue, saturate
Antonyms
extract, dilute, deplete
Related words
Infuse vs steep
Infuse is the broader action of extracting flavor into a liquid over time. Steep is the specific method of soaking a solid ingredient, like tea leaves, in a hot liquid to achieve that infusion.
Word in the Wild
See how this word appears in life, language and stories.
Illustrative sentences and imagined stories for learning — not verified sightings, interviews, or sourced quotations.
Fictional scene
Brushing Hand Through Herbs
An adult brushes their hand through foliage in an herb garden, releasing scents into the air.
The gradual release of scent into the air as the hand touches the plants visually represents the process of infusion, where a quality or essence is allowed to pervade or fill the surrounding space.
Image credit: Wordspun · AI-generated conceptual illustration
Questions about this word
What does "Infuse" mean?
Infuse is verb meaning: To soak in liquid to extract flavour; to fill with a quality or feeling.. To soak or steep something in a liquid in order to extract its flavour or properties. More broadly, to pervade or fill with a quality, feeling, or idea. To infuse is to allow something to enter, gradually and completely.
Where does the word "Infuse" come from?
Latin: 'infundere' (to pour in). From 'in' (into) + 'fundere' (to pour). The same root as 'confound', 'profuse', and 'foundry'.