imbue

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "imbue" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express the idea of instilling or permeating something with a quality or feeling. Example: "The artist aimed to imbue her paintings with a sense of tranquility and peace."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

You may find Ballard's willingness to imbue the cadaver, during the very act of its disincorporation, with the mortal elements of an individual life … well, disturbing.

The Guardian - Arts

I do like Stein's black pepper, though, and his wonderfully zesty kaffir lime leaves, which, like the lemongrass used by Thompson, imbue the chicken with a lovely perfumed freshness.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Led by contemporary art critic, editor and Goldsmiths university lecturer Gilda Williams, author of How to Write about Contemporary Art, this highly practical course shows budding arts critics how to imbue both specialist and casual audiences with the excitement of contemporary art.

The Guardian

Our social safety nets imbue the unarticulated assurance that the UK is OK.

The Guardian - Opinion

There, too, some brave reforming mayors have managed to imbue their people with some civic pride.

The Economist

In 30 years it should be technically feasible to imbue drones with all the capabilities of manned aircraft as well as some extra powers of their own.But just because something is possible does not necessarily make it desirable.

The Economist

They have little reason to believe officials would manage the currency better in future.Without public trust, no government can imbue paper with value.

The Economist

Using the same set director, Benoit Barouh, Mr Tran has produced tints and images that imbue its cheery-sad tale of three sisters with a poetic delight that shows life as precious, evanescent, and infinitely rich.

The Economist

They are also subject to vagaries of the human psyche: "confirmation bias" ensures that strange behaviour not followed by earthquakes gets forgotten, and "flashbulb memory" can, should an earthquake strike, imbue quotidian animal antics with great import after the fact.

The Economist

While this view was gaining influence a new breach opened, between those who sought to imbue the Jewish homeland with the secular values of Judaism and those who wished it to reflect the religious tradition.

The Economist

UBS, a bank, predicts that finding energy-saving technologies to counter the potential loss of nuclear power will imbue Japan with a new creative mission.And in Kesennuma, too, a diamond-edged business spirit is starting to take hold again.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "imbue" when you want to express the idea of deeply instilling a quality, feeling, or idea into something, suggesting a thorough permeation. For example, "The coach sought to imbue the team with a winning mentality."

Common error

Avoid using "imbue" in situations where a simpler verb like "add" or "give" would suffice. "Imbue" implies a significant and pervasive influence, and its use in trivial contexts can sound pretentious.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "imbue" is as a transitive verb. It requires a direct object, indicating what is being filled or permeated with a particular quality. Ludwig AI confirms its usage in various contexts where something is instilled with a certain characteristic.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Encyclopedias

16%

Science

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the verb "imbue" signifies deeply instilling a quality or feeling. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and frequent use across diverse contexts, primarily in news, encyclopedias and science. While grammatically sound, consider avoiding its overuse in simple situations where simpler alternatives might fit better. "Imbue" should be used when the intention is to communicate that quality is being deeply filled or permeated. With numerous related alternatives like "infuse", "permeate", and "instill", it's important to choose the verb that best captures the nuance of your message.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

infuse

Focuses on introducing a quality or element, often subtly.

permeate

Highlights the spreading or pervading nature of the quality.

saturate

Implies a thorough and complete filling or soaking.

steep

Suggests a prolonged immersion, resulting in a deep infusion.

instill

Emphasizes the gradual introduction of a quality, often a belief or value.

endow

Implies bestowing a quality or attribute.

invest

Suggests a deliberate placement of a quality or characteristic.

charge

Implies filling something with energy or emotion.

suffuse

Highlights a gentle spreading or flowing throughout.

tinge

Suggests a slight or subtle influence of a quality.

FAQs

How do you use "imbue" in a sentence?

The word "imbue" is used to describe the act of filling something with a particular quality or feeling. For example, "The director aimed to "imbue" the film with a sense of realism".

What can I say instead of "imbue"?

You can use alternatives like "infuse", "permeate", or "instill" depending on the specific context. Each word carries slightly different connotations of how the quality is introduced.

What's the difference between "imbue" and "infuse"?

"Imbue" suggests a more thorough and pervasive filling of something with a quality, while "infuse" can imply a more subtle or gradual introduction. Choose "imbue" when the quality deeply permeates the subject.

Is it correct to say "imbue with"?

Yes, the phrase "imbue with" is grammatically correct and commonly used. It's followed by the quality or feeling being imparted. For example, "imbue with hope".