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
Looney said Gutierrez, who was a member of his parish, had his infant son baptized a month before the hostage crisis.
—Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Ivey and his wife, Caitlyn, were baptized in their backyard pool in June 2024.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Saturday brings the late night Easter Vigil, during which Leo will baptize new Catholics, followed a few hours later by Easter Sunday when Christians commemorate the resurrection of Jesus.
—ABC News, 29 Mar. 2026
Elizabeth was dressed in the garment as a very young princess in 1926, when she was baptized.
—Laura Scafati, Vanity Fair, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for baptize
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Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 3 Apr. 2026
Ivey and his wife, Caitlyn, were baptized in their backyard pool in June 2024.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
Saturday brings the late night Easter Vigil, during which Leo will baptize new Catholics, followed a few hours later by Easter Sunday when Christians commemorate the resurrection of Jesus.
—ABC News, 29 Mar. 2026
Elizabeth was dressed in the garment as a very young princess in 1926, when she was baptized.
—Laura Scafati, Vanity Fair, 3 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for baptize
Cite this Entry
“Baptize.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/baptize. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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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