Meaning & use
baptize
To perform a religious ceremony admitting someone into the Christian faith, usually with water.
See it in a sentence
The priest baptized the infant in front of the entire congregation.
She was baptized as an adult after years of studying the faith.
A note on using this word
'Christen' is a close synonym but often implies also giving a name during the ceremony.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Another way to use it
2. verb
To give someone a harsh first experience of something, initiating them into it.
The young pilot was baptized into combat during his very first mission.
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