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
Examples of baptize in a Sentence
The priest baptized the baby.
She was baptized at the age of 20.
Recent Examples on the Web
As archbishop of Buenos Aires, Francis in 2012 notably criticized priests who refused to baptize children born out of wedlock.
—Phoebe Natanson, ABC News, 21 Apr. 2025
Hardy, who is a deaconess and camp coordinator for the church, was one of about 35 people who chose to be baptized on Easter Sunday.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2025
Vance was baptized into the Catholic Church in 2019.
—Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Apr. 2025
According to the outlet's summary, their discussion centered on Brand being baptized as a Christian last year and his battles with drug addiction.
—Bill Chappell, NPR, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for baptize
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Phoebe Natanson, ABC News, 21 Apr. 2025
Hardy, who is a deaconess and camp coordinator for the church, was one of about 35 people who chose to be baptized on Easter Sunday.
—Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 20 Apr. 2025
Vance was baptized into the Catholic Church in 2019.
—Nicholas Creel, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Apr. 2025
According to the outlet's summary, their discussion centered on Brand being baptized as a Christian last year and his battles with drug addiction.
—Bill Chappell, NPR, 4 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for baptize
Cite this Entry
“Baptize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/baptize. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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
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