Sopping: meaning, definitions and examples

Use 'sopping' when something is extremely wet, usually to the point of dripping. Often used informally.

• His clothes were sopping after the sudden downpour
• The towel was sopping and needed to be wrung out

Use 'soaked' when something is very wet, having absorbed a lot of liquid. It can describe a variety of situations.

• His shoes were soaked from walking through the wet grass
• She soaked her clothes to remove the stains

Choose 'drenched' when something is thoroughly wet, as if soaked by a large amount of liquid. It can describe both people and objects.

• She got drenched in the rain without an umbrella
• The garden was drenched after the heavy rainfall

Use 'saturated' to describe something completely filled or soaked to the maximum capacity, often used in a more formal context.

• The soil was saturated after days of continuous rain
• The market is saturated with similar products

Use 'sodden' to describe something heavily soaked with water, usually implying heaviness or an unpleasant feeling. Can be used negatively.

• The ground was sodden and muddy after the storm
• He wore a sodden jacket that felt like it weighed a ton

Used primarily in informal contexts to describe something that is extremely wet, often dripping.

• My clothes were sopping after walking in the rain
• The dog came back sopping wet from the river

Typically used in more scientific or technical contexts to indicate that something is completely filled or soaked with liquid.

• The sponge was saturated with water and could not absorb any more
• The soil became saturated after the heavy rainfall

Used to describe something that is very wet, often with a slightly informal tone. Can refer to both clothing and natural objects.

• I was soaked to the skin after forgetting my umbrella
• The books got soaked when I accidentally spilled my drink

Commonly used to describe something or someone thoroughly soaked, often because of heavy rain or liquid being poured over them.

• We got drenched in the sudden downpour
• She was drenched in sweat after the intense workout

Often used in a slightly negative context to describe something that is excessively wet to the point of being heavy and unpleasing.

• The bread was sodden and unappetizing after being left in the soup
• His shoes were sodden from traipsing through the muddy field