What does "intake" mean?
The place where water, air or other fluid is taken into a pipe or conduit; opposed to outlet.
Intake
/ˈɪnteɪk/ noun, verb, slang
noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The place where water, air or other fluid is taken into a pipe or conduit; opposed to outlet.
- Grammar: intake is listed as noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: consumption, ingestion, inlet, uptake.
- Useful contrasts: deny, discharge, ejector.
- Usage evidence: After his heart attack, Jim had to cut down on his sugar intake.
How to use "intake"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "intake" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "intake" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "intake" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "intake" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "intake" is acting as noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "consumption" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "intake", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The place where water, air or other fluid is taken into a pipe or conduit; opposed to outlet. countable, uncountable
- 2 the act of inhaling; the drawing in of air (or other gases) as in breathing wordnet
- 3 The beginning of a contraction or narrowing in a tube or cylinder. countable, uncountable
- 4 the process of taking food into the body through the mouth (as by eating) wordnet
- 5 The quantity taken in. countable, uncountable
"the intake of air"
Show 7 more definitions
- 6 an opening through which fluid is admitted to a tube or container wordnet
- 7 An act or instance of taking in. countable, uncountable
"an intake of oxygen or food"
- 8 A nostril, especially a large one. countable, derogatory, slang, uncountable
- 9 The people taken into an organization or establishment at a particular time. countable, uncountable
"the new intake of students"
- 10 The process of screening a juvenile offender to decide upon release or referral. countable, uncountable
- 11 A tract of land enclosed. countable, uncountable
- 12 Any kind of cheat or imposition; the act of taking someone in. UK, countable, dialectal, uncountable
Verb
- 1 To take in or draw in; to bring in from outside. transitive
"Well, I "intook" the general situation west of the Mississippi because I did not get much of a chance to see things east of the Mississippi."
Example
"After his heart attack, Jim had to cut down on his sugar intake."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "intake"?
Common synonyms include: consumption, ingestion, inlet, uptake, absorb, absorption.
How do you use "intake" in a sentence?
After his heart attack, Jim had to cut down on his sugar intake.
How do you pronounce "intake"?
Pronounced /ˈɪnteɪk/.
Etymology
From English dialectal (Northern England/Scotland), deverbal of take in, equivalent to in- + take. More at in-, take.