baptize

verb

bap·​tize ˈbap-ˌtīz 

bap-ˈtīz,

 especially Southern  bab-ˈtīz,

 or  ˈbab-ˌtīz

variants or less commonly baptise

baptized also baptised; baptizing also baptising

transitive verb

1

religion : to administer baptism (see baptism sense 1) to

baptize a child in the Episcopal Church

was baptized a Catholic as an infant

2

a

: to purify or cleanse spiritually especially by a purging (see purge entry 1 sense 1) experience or ordeal

… baptized with pain and rapture, tears and fire …

—Sidney Lanier

b

: initiate

Both developments were baptized under last season's conditions of scanty snow …

—New York Times

3

: to give a name to (as at baptism) : christen

They baptized their son "John" after the baby's grandfather.

intransitive verb

: to administer baptism

baptizer noun

Synonyms

• call
• christen
• clepe [archaic]
• denominate
• designate
• dub
• entitle
• label
• name
• nominate
• style
• term
• title

Examples of baptize in a Sentence

The priest baptized the baby.

She was baptized at the age of 20.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Oscar-winning actor, 69, was baptized and received a minister's license at the Kelly Temple Church of God in Christ in New York on Saturday in a service broadcast on Facebook. —Brendan Morrow, USA TODAY, 24 Dec. 2024

The actor, producer, and director, 69, was baptized and received a minister's license at the Kelly Temple Church of God in Christ in New York on Saturday, as shared by Archbishop Christopher Bryant in a Facebook post. —Jessica Wang, EW.com, 23 Dec. 2024

The actor was baptized and received a license to minister at a Harlem, NY, church. —Demicia Inman, VIBE.com, 23 Dec. 2024

Denzel Washington was baptized and presented with a minister license on Saturday at the Kelly Temple Church of God in Christ, which is located in New York City’s Harlem neighborhood (via People). —Zack Sharf, Variety, 23 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French baptiser, from Late Latin baptizare, from Greek baptizein to dip, baptize, from baptein to dip, dye; akin to Old Norse kvefja to quench

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

baptize

verb

bap·​tize bap-ˈtīz 

ˈbap-ˌtīz

baptized; baptizing

1

: to dip in water or sprinkle water on as a part of the ceremony of receiving into the Christian church

2

a

: to make pure in spirit (as by a painful experience)

b

: initiate entry 1 sense 3

3

: to give a name to (as in the ceremony of baptism) : christen

baptizer noun