partake

partake — verb

1. to have some food or something to drink that is being served, especially in form

1.verbintransitiveC1
Definition

to have some food or something to drink that is being served, especially in formal situations.

Example

Guests partook of tea and rice cakes after the temple tour.

formal pattern: partake of + food/drink

At lunch, Maria partook of the soup before the speeches began.

Common collocations
  • partake of tea
  • partake of wine
  • partake of the meal
  • partake of refreshments
Synonyms
  • eat

    the normal everyday verb and much less formal

  • drink

    only works for liquids, not food in general

  • have

    a very common and flexible choice for food or drink

  • enjoy

    suggests pleasure more strongly than partake

Antonyms
  • abstain

    formal and means deliberately not eating or drinking

  • refuse

    focuses on saying no to what is offered

Grammar Patterns

partake of + food/drink

partake of a meal

partake of refreshments

Usage Note

Often followed by of before the food or drink. This sense is common in invitations, formal reports, and literary description rather than everyday conversation.

Common Mistakes

We partook the soup before class.
We partook of the soup before class.
In this food sense, partake is usually followed by 'of', not a direct object.

2. to join an activity or shared event with other people, especially in formal writ

2.verbintransitiveC1
Definition

to join an activity or shared event with other people, especially in formal writing or speech.

Example

More than fifty students partook in the beach clean-up on Saturday.

formal pattern: partake in + activity

Several neighbors partook in the meeting about the new bus stop.

Common collocations
  • partake in a ceremony
  • partake in a meeting
  • partake in community life
  • partake in a game
Synonyms
  • participate

    the closest formal synonym and much more common today

  • take part

    the usual everyday expression

  • join in

    more informal and often suggests active involvement

  • engage in

    formal but often suggests longer or deeper involvement

Antonyms
  • avoid

    means choosing not to join the activity

  • withdraw

    means stopping your involvement after joining

Grammar Patterns

partake in + activity

partake in a ceremony

partake in a meeting

Usage Note

Usually followed by in before the event or activity. It is more formal and less common than take part in or join in.

Common Mistakes

All the staff partook of the safety meeting.
All the staff partook in the safety meeting.
Use 'in' when the meaning is joining an activity or event.
Phrasal verbs

partake of

phrasal verb

To eat or drink something, especially when sharing with others.

Maya invited us to partake of her homemade apple pie.

Would you like to partake of some fresh orange juice?

Word family

  • partaker
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/2

For the meaning of joining an activity, partake is quite formal and less common in modern everyday English. Participate is the closest match in formal writing, school rules, or official notices. Take part is the normal neutral expression and works in almost any situation. Join in is more informal and often suggests entering something lively or already happening, such as a song, game, or conversation. Partake can sound literary or old-fashioned, especially outside careful writing. Use it when you want a more elevated tone. Compare: Students participated in the science fair. The children quickly joined in the song. In a formal report, you might read that local residents partook in the ceremony.

partake ↗participate ↗take partjoin in ↗

Etymology

LatinEnglish

Partake appeared in English in the 1500s. It grew out of earlier English forms such as partaker and part-taking, with the basic idea of taking or having a share. That original idea still shows in the word today, both when someone shares food or drink and when someone joins a group activity.