variants
or less commonly baptise
baptized also baptised; baptizing also baptising
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
Sidney Lanier
b
: initiate
Both developments were baptized under last season's conditions of scanty snow …—New York Times
New York Times3
: to give a name to (as at baptism) : christen
They baptized their son "John" after the baby's grandfather.
: to administer baptism
baptizer
noun
Synonyms
Examples of baptize in a Sentence
The priest baptized the baby.
She was baptized at the age of 20.
Recent Examples on the Web
October 30 and 31: Souls of children who were not baptized.
—Paula Soria, The Arizona Republic, 29 Oct. 2024
Uncharacteristically, Nino wants the baby to be baptized.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2024
These Swingers Have Thoughts The mythology is insulting enough without casting Creed frontman Scott Stapp to do an embarrassing cameo as Frank Sinatra or Kevin Sorbo as the minister who baptizes young Ronnie.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2024
Jim, who has served as a missionary, spoke at the March For Life in Washington, D.C., in January and said his Michigan team last year was on a spiritual mission after 70 of his players were baptized.
—Dan Pompei, The Athletic, 26 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for baptize 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Paula Soria, The Arizona Republic, 29 Oct. 2024
Uncharacteristically, Nino wants the baby to be baptized.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2024
These Swingers Have Thoughts The mythology is insulting enough without casting Creed frontman Scott Stapp to do an embarrassing cameo as Frank Sinatra or Kevin Sorbo as the minister who baptizes young Ronnie.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 8 Sep. 2024
Jim, who has served as a missionary, spoke at the March For Life in Washington, D.C., in January and said his Michigan team last year was on a spiritual mission after 70 of his players were baptized.
—Dan Pompei, The Athletic, 26 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for baptize
Dictionary Entries Near baptize
Cite this Entry
“Baptize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/baptize. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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)
3
: to give a name to (as in the ceremony of baptism) : christen
baptizer
noun
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share