What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
soak
Example
I like to soak my feet in warm water after a long day. [soak: verb]
Example
The recipe calls for soaking the beans overnight before cooking them. [soaking: gerund or present participle]
immerse
Example
She immersed herself in the cold water to cool off. [immerse: verb]
Example
He likes to immerse himself in books about history. [immersed: past participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Soak is more commonly used than immerse in everyday language, especially in the context of personal care or cooking. Immerse is more commonly used in academic or professional settings to describe a deep level of involvement or absorption in a subject or task.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between soak and immerse?
Immerse is generally considered more formal than soak, as it is often used in academic or professional contexts to describe a high level of involvement or absorption in a subject or task.
