drain
gb/dɹˈeɪn/ us/dɹˈeɪn/
B1
English
~ 8600
leereszt, lefolyik, leszűr, felemészt, felhasznál, felél, elhasznál, fogyaszt, kimerít, kifáraszt, lefolyó, vízelvezető csatorna, teher, pénznyelő, kiiszik, felhajt
VERB
B1
1
Usage pattern:
to drain [liquid] from [container/place]; [liquid] drains from [container/place]
After washing the dishes, she pulled the plug to drain the sink.
Mosogatás után kihúzta a dugót, hogy leengedje a vizet a mosogatóból.
You should drain the pasta before adding the sauce.
Szűrd le a tésztát, mielőtt hozzáadod a szószt.
Rainwater drains from the roof through these pipes.
They installed ditches to help drain the field after heavy storms.
The mechanic had to drain all the oil from the engine before refilling it.
Learner examples
Please drain the water from the pot.
Kérlek, öntsd le a vizet a fazékból.
The bathtub will not drain properly.
A kádból nem folyik le rendesen a víz.
Let the rice drain in a small basket.
Rain slowly drains from the street into the gutter.
He opened the valve to drain the tank.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"throw the water"* or *"remove the water"* instead of *"drain the water"* when liquid leaves a container by flowing out. Another common mistake is mixing up prepositions: say *"drain the water from the sink"*, not *"drain the water of the sink"* when the sink is the container.
Meaning
remove liquid from something
Collocations
drain the water
|drain the sink
|drain the pasta
|let it drain
|water drains away
|drain the swamp
Synonyms
empty (More general; can be used for removing things other than liquid, while "drain" focuses on liquid flowing out.)
|
discharge (More formal/technical, often used for liquids like chemicals, waste, or electricity leaving something.)
Antonyms
fill (Opposite action: putting liquid into a container instead of letting it flow out.)
Themes
daily life
|home
|food
|environment
|daily_life
|housing
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To let liquid run out of something so that it becomes empty or almost empty.
To make a container, surface, or area empty or almost empty by letting liquid flow out of it, or for liquid to flow away like this.
VERB
B2
2
Usage pattern:
to drain [someone/something] of [resource]; to drain [resource] from [something]
Rising fuel costs are starting to drain the company’s profits.
The long legal battle drained him of all his savings.
Constant overtime will quickly drain your energy.
Medical bills can drain a family’s finances in just a few months.
The war effort drained the country of its remaining resources.
Learner examples
The new project is draining our budget.
This job is draining all my energy.
High rent drains my money every month.
The long meeting drained everyone of their patience.
Her illness slowly drained her strength.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "drain" with "drop" or "decrease." "Drain" suggests that a resource is being used up, often until very little or nothing is left, not just going down a little. Also, use the pattern *"drain someone of energy/money"*, not *"drain energy from someone"* when you focus on what the person loses.
Meaning
use up money, energy, etc.
Collocations
drain resources
|drain the budget
|drain your energy
|drain savings
|drain the life out of
|emotionally drained
Synonyms
deplete (More formal and often used in written or technical contexts, but with the same idea of using something up.)
|
exhaust (Can sound more dramatic; often used with resources or people, emphasizing being completely used up.)
Antonyms
replenish (Opposite action: to fill something up again with money, energy, or other resources.)
Themes
business
|economy
|work
|emotions
|finance
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To slowly take away or use so much money, energy, or strength that only a little is left.
To use up or greatly reduce the supply of money, energy, strength, or another resource, often gradually.
VERB
B2
3
Usage pattern:
to drain [someone]; to drain [someone] emotionally/mentally/physically
The constant conflict at work is really draining me emotionally.
Caring for a newborn can drain even the strongest parents.
The long negotiations drained the team, and they looked exhausted by the end.
This kind of personal drama just drains me; I need some quiet time.
Hours of exam preparation had drained him completely.
Learner examples
The long exam drained me.
Talking about this problem drains her.
The heat drained everyone at the game.
That difficult conversation drained him emotionally.
Working every weekend is starting to drain me.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use only "tired" where native speakers might say "drained" to show a stronger feeling of emotional or mental emptiness. Also, avoid *"drain of me"*; say *"it drains me"* or *"it drains me emotionally"*.
Meaning
make someone very tired
Collocations
drain someone emotionally
|drain someone mentally
|drain someone physically
|drain you completely
|drain all your energy
|feel drained
Synonyms
wear out (More informal, common in everyday speech; strongly suggests tiredness after effort or stress.)
|
overwhelm (Focuses more on mental or emotional pressure; not always about tiredness, but can overlap.)
Antonyms
energize (Opposite effect: to give someone energy or make them feel more lively instead of tired.)
Themes
emotions
|health
|work
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To make a person feel very tired or with no energy, often because something is long, hard, or stressful.
To cause someone to feel extremely tired, weak, or without emotional energy.
NOUN
B1
4
lefolyó
A2
The kitchen sink is full because the drain is blocked.
Tele van a konyhai mosogató, mert eldugult a lefolyó.
Leaves can easily clog the outdoor drains during autumn.
Ősszel a levelek könnyen eltömíthetik a kinti vízelvezető csatornákat.
Pouring grease down the drain can cause serious plumbing problems.
He lifted the drain cover to remove the hair and dirt.
Heavy rain flooded the street because the storm drains were full of rubbish.
Learner examples
The water does not go down the drain.
A víz nem folyik le a lefolyón.
We called a plumber to fix the drain.
Vízvezeték-szerelőt hívtunk, hogy megjavítsa a lefolyót.
Please do not throw oil into the drain.
Hair in the shower drain causes a bad smell.
The street drain is full of trash.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say *"the hole of the sink"* instead of *"the drain"* when talking about where the water goes out. Also, be careful not to confuse "drain" (the pipe or opening) with "sewer" (the larger underground system).
Meaning
pipe or opening for liquid
Collocations
blocked drain
|unblock the drain
|kitchen drain
|storm drain
|drain cleaner
|clogged drain
Synonyms
sewer (Refers more to the underground system of pipes carrying waste water, not usually the small opening in a sink or shower.)
|
gutter (Usually means the channel at the edge of a street or roof, not the entire pipe or opening system.)
Antonyms
inlet (In plumbing, an inlet is where water or another liquid enters, which contrasts with a drain where it leaves.)
Themes
home
|city
|environment
|housing
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A hole or pipe where water or other liquid goes out from a sink, bath, road, or building.
An opening, channel, or pipe that carries liquid away from a surface, container, or building.
NOUN
B2
5
Usage pattern:
a drain on [resource]; a drain on [someone/something]
The new stadium has become a major drain on the city’s finances.
Az új stadion komoly teherré vált a város pénzügyei számára.
Long commutes are a real drain on employees’ time and energy.
A hosszú ingázás rengeteg időt és energiát vesz el a dolgozóktól.
The aging equipment is a constant drain on the company’s budget.
Medical costs can be a huge drain on retired people’s savings.
This outdated system is more of a drain than a benefit now.
Learner examples
The car is a big drain on my money.
Az autó nagy anyagi teher számomra.
His hobby is a drain on their family budget.
A hobbija megterheli a családi költségvetést.
This project is a drain on our time.
The old building is a constant drain on city funds.
The war became a serious drain on the country.
Common mistake:
Learners may say *"problem for the budget"* where *"a drain on the budget"* is more natural. Remember to use the preposition *"on"*: say *"a drain on our time"*, not *"a drain of our time"*.
Meaning
thing that uses too many resources
Collocations
a drain on resources
|a drain on the economy
|a drain on the budget
|a serious financial drain
|a constant drain on
|a huge drain on time
Synonyms
burden (Emphasizes heaviness and difficulty, not just the use of resources.)
|
strain (Focuses on pressure or stress placed on resources rather than just their loss.)
Antonyms
asset (Opposite in effect: something that adds value or benefits rather than taking resources away.)
Themes
business
|economy
|work
|finance
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Something that takes a lot of money, time, or energy, usually more than is good or expected.
Something that greatly uses up or reduces money, time, energy, or another resource, often in a harmful way.
VERB
B2
6
Usage pattern:
to drain [glass/cup/bottle]; to drain [one’s] drink
He drained his glass and asked for another beer.
Kiitta a poharát, és kért még egy sört.
She drained her coffee in silence before leaving the room.
Csendben megitta a kávéját, mielőtt kiment a szobából.
They laughed, clinked their glasses, and drained their drinks.
He drained the bottle and set it back on the table.
Without a word, she drained her wine and walked out.
Learner examples
He drained his cup of tea.
Kiitta a csésze teáját.
She picked up the glass and drained it.
Felvette a poharat, és kiitta.
They drained their drinks and left.
He was nervous and drained his beer quickly.
She drained the bottle of water after the run.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse this verb for any kind of finishing, saying *"drain the food"* instead of *"finish the food"*. "Drain" in this sense only works for drinking all the liquid in a container.
Meaning
drink something until empty
Collocations
drain a glass
|drain his drink
|drain her cup
|drain the bottle
|drain it in one go
|drain it dry
Synonyms
finish (Very general; can mean to complete anything, not just a drink, and does not emphasize the container becoming empty.)
|
down (Informal; suggests drinking quickly, often in one go.)
Antonyms
sip (Contrasts with the idea of quickly drinking everything; "sip" means to drink slowly in small amounts.)
Themes
food
|social life
|food_drink
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To drink everything in a glass or cup so it is empty.
To drink all the liquid in a glass, cup, or other container so that nothing or almost nothing is left.
Grammar
Dictionary form
drain
IPA
GB/dɹˈeɪn/
US/dɹˈeɪn/
Syllables & stress
drain (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (drain)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: drain
- Plural: drain, drains
Verb
- Base: drain
- 3rd Person Singular: drains
- Present Participle: draining
- Past: drained
Word family
Forms
drains
noun
draining
verb
drained
verb
Core family
drainage
noun
Related words
drainer
noun
drainpipe
noun
Advanced or less common
drainable
adjective
Expressions
a drain on something
1/ə dɹˈeɪn ˈɔn sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
thing that uses too many resources
Something that takes a lot of money, time, or energy from a person, company, or country, usually in a bad way.
Examples
- The pension system is a growing drain on public finances.
- The old heating system is a major drain on our energy bills.
- This extra paperwork is a serious drain on staff time.
brain drain
1/bɹˈeɪn dɹˈeɪn/
fixed phrase
loss of educated people
When many educated or skilled people leave their own country or area to live and work in another place, usually for better pay or conditions.
Examples
- The country is suffering from a serious brain drain as young professionals move abroad.
- Better salaries overseas have caused a brain drain in the healthcare sector.
- New policies were introduced to slow the brain drain of scientists.
down the drain
1/dˈaʊn ðə dɹˈeɪn/
idiom
completely wasted or lost
Used to say that time, money, or work is completely wasted and brings no good result.
Examples
- If this deal falls through, all our hard work will go down the drain.
- Thousands of dollars went down the drain when the project was canceled.
- His years of training seemed to go down the drain after the injury.
drain away
1/dɹˈeɪn əwˈeɪ/
phrasal verb
gradually flow out or disappear
For liquid, money, energy, or another thing to slowly go away from a place until only a little or nothing is left.
Examples
- The floodwater slowly drained away over the next few days.
- As the months passed, their savings drained away.
- Her confidence drained away after several failures.
drain off
1/dɹˈeɪn ˈɔf/
phrasal verb
let liquid flow away
To let liquid run away from something so that the thing becomes drier or empty of that liquid.
Examples
- Drain off the excess fat before serving the stew.
- We need to drain off the water from the roof.
- After cooking the vegetables, drain off the water and add butter.
drain out
1/dɹˈeɪn ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
liquid flows out completely
For liquid inside something to run out so that there is little or nothing left inside.
Examples
- All the oil drained out of the engine overnight.
- Let the water drain out before you open the filter.
- Most of the color has drained out of the old photograph.
drain someone of something
1/dɹˈeɪn sˈʌmwˌʌn əv sˈʌmθɪŋ/
phrasal verb
take away someone’s resources
To use or take so much of a person’s money, energy, or strength that they have very little left.
Examples
- The long court case drained him of all his savings.
- Years of stress had drained her of energy and hope.
- The illness slowly drained him of his strength.
go down the drain
1/ɡˈoʊ dˈaʊn ðə dɹˈeɪn/
idiom
be wasted or lost
To be wasted, especially money, time, or an opportunity, so that it brings no benefit.
Examples
- All our savings went down the drain when the business failed.
- His chance to study abroad went down the drain after he missed the deadline.
- Don’t let all that effort go down the drain.
drain the swamp
1/dɹˈeɪn ðə swˈɑmp/
idiom
informal
remove corruption or bad elements
To try to clear an organization or system of corrupt, dishonest, or harmful people and practices.
Examples
- The new mayor promised to drain the swamp at city hall.
- He ran for office on a pledge to drain the swamp.
- He ran for office on a pledge to drain the swamp of political corruption.
- Many voters liked his message about draining the swamp in Washington.