drained; draining; drains
1
a
: to draw off (liquid) gradually or completely
drained all the water out of the pool
b
: to cause the gradual disappearance of
drain the region's wealth
c
: to exhaust (see exhaust entry 1 sense 1b) physically or emotionally
feeling drained at the end of a long workday
2
a
: to make gradually dry
drain a swamp
b
: to carry away the surface water of
the river that drains the valley
c
: to deplete or empty by or as if by drawing off by degrees or in increments
drained the country of its resources
d
: to empty by drinking the contents of
drain a mug of beer
3
sports
: drop sense 7c, sink
drain the putt
drained two free throws
4
obsolete
: filter
1
: to become emptied or freed of liquid by its flowing or dropping
waiting for the tub to drain
2
: to discharge surface or surplus water
drains into the Gulf of Mexico
3
a
: to flow off gradually
b
: to disappear gradually : dwindle
his nervousness drained away, as it always did—
H. A. Sinclair
H. A. Sinclair
drainer
noun
1
: a means (such as a pipe) by which usually liquid matter is drained
2
: something that causes depletion : burden
a drain on the city's resources
3
a
: the act of draining
b
: a gradual outflow or withdrawal : depletion
a net drain from the East of five million souls—G. W. Pierson
G. W. Pierson4
electronics
: an electrode in a field-effect transistor toward which charge carriers move compare gate, source
Synonyms
Examples of drain in a Sentence
Verb
Drain the canned tomatoes before adding them to the pot.
The swamp has been drained.
I was waiting for the bathtub to drain.
The river drains into a lake.
Years of civil war have drained the country's resources.
The city's emergency fund has been drained.
I feel totally drained of energy this evening.
Noun
The drain in the bathtub is blocked.
Recent Examples on the WebKatie Workman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2024
The cook’s line hand sink was clogged during the inspection and the water was draining slowly, according to the report.
—Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 3 Apr. 2024
Kayla Padilla drained a corner three at the third-quarter buzzer to draw the Trojans to within five.
—Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
Sharon Woods lake to be closed until fall 2025, as draining starts this month.
—The Enquirer, 2 Apr. 2024
Water draining out of the floodplains draws millions of minnows and other small fry into the main channel, where masses of lurking catfish run to the edges to feed, while tiger fish wait in deeper water for their turn to strike.
—Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2024
Some described their time under her as the worst in their lives and emotionally draining.
—John Tuohy, The Indianapolis Star, 28 Mar. 2024
James’ office could also seek court permission to drain Trump’s bank accounts and investment portfolios, or sell off other assets like his planes, helicopters — or even his golf carts.
—Michael R. Sisak, Fortune, 20 Mar. 2024
Drain and rinse under cold running water, then drain again.
—Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 19 Mar. 2024
Tyrone Beason, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2024
Something searched me, as if for a ring down a drain.
—Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2024
This tool is meant to help homeowners get an idea of how much water — and money — is literally going down the drain.
—Sarah Bowman, The Indianapolis Star, 1 Apr. 2024
Leaders have argued that services accompanying H Barracks — including security, meals, showers, counseling and transportation — will keep the shelter from becoming a drain on the area.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2024
Hunter said firefighters have to put copious amounts of water on a battery fire to extinguish it, which is a drain on city resources.
—Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, 1 Mar. 2024
The 71-year-old retiree reads the news on her MSN homepage and googles how to fight the bugs coming from her drain in Florida’s summer heat.
—Brian Fung, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024
Wash flakes down the drain by lathering up with the Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 20 Mar. 2024
The kitchen sink and garbage disposal: Tetro recommends putting five tablespoons of baking soda down the kitchen drain, followed by a cup of vinegar.
—Stacey Colino, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024
Verb
Blanching: Cook the asparagus briefly in boiling water, then immediately drain the water and plunge the vegetable into ice water.
—Katie Workman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2024
The cook’s line hand sink was clogged during the inspection and the water was draining slowly, according to the report.
—Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 3 Apr. 2024
Kayla Padilla drained a corner three at the third-quarter buzzer to draw the Trojans to within five.
—Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
Sharon Woods lake to be closed until fall 2025, as draining starts this month.
—The Enquirer, 2 Apr. 2024
Water draining out of the floodplains draws millions of minnows and other small fry into the main channel, where masses of lurking catfish run to the edges to feed, while tiger fish wait in deeper water for their turn to strike.
—Alex Postman, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2024
Some described their time under her as the worst in their lives and emotionally draining.
—John Tuohy, The Indianapolis Star, 28 Mar. 2024
James’ office could also seek court permission to drain Trump’s bank accounts and investment portfolios, or sell off other assets like his planes, helicopters — or even his golf carts.
—Michael R. Sisak, Fortune, 20 Mar. 2024
Drain and rinse under cold running water, then drain again.
—Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 19 Mar. 2024
Noun
Alex steps up, turns on the tap and watches as water swirls down the drain.
—Tyrone Beason, Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2024
Something searched me, as if for a ring down a drain.
—Katy Waldman, The New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2024
This tool is meant to help homeowners get an idea of how much water — and money — is literally going down the drain.
—Sarah Bowman, The Indianapolis Star, 1 Apr. 2024
Leaders have argued that services accompanying H Barracks — including security, meals, showers, counseling and transportation — will keep the shelter from becoming a drain on the area.
—Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Mar. 2024
Hunter said firefighters have to put copious amounts of water on a battery fire to extinguish it, which is a drain on city resources.
—Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, 1 Mar. 2024
The 71-year-old retiree reads the news on her MSN homepage and googles how to fight the bugs coming from her drain in Florida’s summer heat.
—Brian Fung, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024
Wash flakes down the drain by lathering up with the Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 20 Mar. 2024
The kitchen sink and garbage disposal: Tetro recommends putting five tablespoons of baking soda down the kitchen drain, followed by a cup of vinegar.
—Stacey Colino, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'drain.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near drain
Cite this Entry
“Drain.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drain. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
drain
1 of 2 verb1
a
: to draw off or flow off gradually or completely
drain water from a tank
b
: to exhaust physically or emotionally
2
: to make or become gradually dry or empty
drain a swamp
drained the country of its resources
drainer
noun
drain
2 of 2 noun1
: a means (as a pipe, channel, or sewer) of draining
2
a
: the act of draining
b
: a gradual using up
3
: something that causes a using up
a drain on our resources
Medical Definition
drain
1 of 2 transitive verb1
a
: to draw off (liquid) gradually or completely
drain pus from an abscess
b
: to exhaust physically or emotionally
2
: to carry away or give passage to a bodily fluid or a discharge from
drain an abscess
the eustachian tube drains the middle ear—H. G. Armstrong
H. G. Armstrong
: to flow off gradually
blood draining from a wound
drain
2 of 2 noun
: a tube or cylinder usually of absorbent material for drainage of a wound see cigarette drain
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share