Drain — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈdrān/

Meaning & Definition of Drain

Drain (verb)

  1. to draw off (liquid) gradually or completely
  2. to cause the gradual disappearance of
  3. to exhaust physically or emotionally

Drain (noun)

  1. a means (such as a pipe) by which usually liquid matter is drained
  2. something that causes depletion, burden
  3. the act of draining

Drain (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to remove (liquid) gradually or completely

    "we drained the water from the tank before cleaning it"

    similar: bleed, draft, draw (off), pump, siphon, tap
    related: milk, suck, clear, empty, evacuate, exhaust, vacate, vacuate, void, decant, effuse, deplete, clean, flush, purge
    opposite: fill
    near: bathe, douse, drench, soak, souse, wash, water, wet, deluge, drown, flood, inundate, overflow, submerge, swamp

  2. to make complete use of

    "virtually drained the country's natural resources"

    similar: absorb, burn, consume, deplete, devour, draw down, exhaust, expend, play out, spend, use up, run out of
    related: abate, decrease, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, lessen, lower, reduce, eat, use, bankrupt, clean (out), impoverish, cripple, debilitate, disable, enfeeble, sap, undermine, weaken, dry up, empty, blow, dissipate, fritter (away), guzzle, lavish, misspend, run through, squander, throw away, waste
    opposite: renew, replace
    near: augment, enlarge, increase, bolster, enforce, fortify, reinforce, strengthen, rebuild, repair, restore, revive, conserve, preserve, save

  3. to use up all the physical energy of

    "the long hike drained us"

    similar: break, burn out, bust, do in, do up, exhaust, fag, fatigue, frazzle, harass, kill, knock out, outwear, tire, tucker (out), wash out, wear, wear out, weary, wear to a frazzle
    related: debilitate, enervate, enfeeble, sap, waste, weaken
    near: activate, energize, invigorate, rejuvenate, strengthen, vitalize, relax, rest, unwind

Drain (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in sluice, flume

    similar: flume, sluice, drainpipe, eaves trough, gutter, rainspout, spout, trough, waterspout, conduit, duct, aqueduct

  2. as in flow

    similar: flow, exodus, gush, outflow, outpour, outpouring, ebb, reflow, reflux, rush, stampede, diaspora, emigration, flight, discharge, effluence, emanation, emission
    opposite: flux, inflow, influx, inrush, deluge, flood, inundation, overflow, spate, torrent, river, stream, tide

Related Entry: Drain (away) (verb)

Drain (away) is a different word from Drain. The synonyms below are for drain (away), not for drain.

  1. to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually

    "as the city lost population, its political influence drained away"

    similar: abate, de-escalate, decline, decrease, die (away or down or out), diminish, drop (off), dwindle, ease, ebb, fall, fall away, lessen, let up, lower, moderate, pall, phase down, ratchet (down), recede, relent, remit, shrink, subside, taper, taper off, wane
    related: compress, condense, constrict, contract, evaporate, fade (away), fritter (away), give out, melt (away), peter (out), tail (off), vanish, slacken, slow (down), alleviate, relax, flag, sink, weaken, cave (in), collapse, deflate
    opposite: accumulate, balloon, build, burgeon, enlarge, escalate, expand, grow, increase, intensify, mount, mushroom, pick up, rise, snowball, soar, swell, wax
    near: appear, emerge, show up, blow up, distend, elongate, lengthen

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Drain

The most common words with a similar meaning to Drain:

bleed, draft, draw (off), pump, siphon, tap, absorb, burn, consume, deplete, devour, draw down, exhaust, expend, play out, spend, use up, break, burn out, bust, do in, do up, fag, fatigue, frazzle, harass, kill, knock out, outwear, tire, tucker (out), wash out, wear, wear out, weary, run out of, wear to a frazzle, flume, sluice, drainpipe

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Drain

Words with the opposite meaning of Drain:

fill, renew, replace, flux, inflow, influx, inrush, deluge, flood, inundation, overflow, spate, torrent, river, stream, tide

Related Words for Drain

milk, suck, clear, empty, evacuate, vacate, vacuate, void, decant, effuse, clean, flush, purge, abate, decrease, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, lessen, lower, reduce, eat, use, bankrupt, clean (out), impoverish, cripple, debilitate, disable

Near Antonyms of Drain

bathe, douse, drench, soak, souse, wash, water, wet, drown, inundate, submerge, swamp, augment, enlarge, increase, bolster, enforce, fortify, reinforce, strengthen, rebuild, repair, restore, revive, conserve, preserve, save, activate, energize, invigorate

Word Forms of Drain

Inflections: drained, draining, drains

Derived words: drainer (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Drain

Middle English draynen, from Old English drēahnian dry

First known use: before 12th centuryt

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Drain

Words & Phrases Containing Drain

drain off, brain drain, down the drain, laugh like a drain, storm drain

Frequently Asked Questions about Drain

What does "Drain" mean?

"Drain" means to draw off (liquid) gradually or completely. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to draw off (liquid) gradually or completely. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Drain"?

Other words for "Drain" include bleed, draft, draw (off), pump, siphon, tap, absorb and burn. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Drain" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Drain"?

There are 113 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Drain". Common alternatives include bleed, draft, draw (off), pump, siphon, tap, absorb, burn, consume and deplete.

What is the opposite of "Drain"?

Antonyms of "Drain" include fill, renew, replace, flux, inflow, influx, inrush and deluge. Near antonyms include bathe, douse, drench and soak.

How do you use "Drain" in a sentence?

Examples of "Drain" in a sentence: "we drained the water from the tank before cleaning it"; "virtually drained the country's natural resources"; "the long hike drained us".

Is "Drain" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Drain" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Drain" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Drain" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Drain"?

"Drain" is pronounced /ˈdrān/.