sponge

1 of 2

noun

1
a(1)
: an elastic porous mass of interlacing horny fibers that forms the internal skeleton of various marine animals (phylum Porifera) and is able when wetted to absorb water
(2)
: a piece of sponge (as for scrubbing)
(3)
: a porous rubber or cellulose product used similarly to a sponge
b
: any of a phylum (Porifera) of aquatic chiefly marine simple invertebrate animals that have a double-walled body of loosely aggregated cells with a skeleton supported by spicules or spongin and are filter feeders that are sessile as adults
2
: a pad (as of folded gauze) used in surgery and medicine (as to remove discharge)
3
: one who lives on others
4
a
: a soft mixture of yeast, liquid, and flour that is allowed to rise and then mixed with additional ingredients to create bread dough
b
: a whipped dessert usually containing whites of eggs or gelatin
c
: a metal (such as platinum) obtained in porous form usually by reduction without fusion
titanium sponge
d
: the egg mass of a crab
5
: an absorbent contraceptive device that is impregnated with spermicide and inserted into the vagina before sexual intercourse to cover the cervix
spongelike adjective

sponge

2 of 2

verb

sponged; sponging

transitive verb

1
: to cleanse, wipe, or moisten with or as if with a sponge
2
: to erase or destroy with or as if with a sponge
often used with out
3
: to get by sponging on another
4
: to absorb with or as if with or in the manner of a sponge

intransitive verb

1
: to absorb, soak up, or imbibe like a sponge
2
: to get something from or live on another by imposing on hospitality or good nature
sponged off of her sister
3
: to dive or dredge for sponges
sponger noun
Choose the Right Synonym for sponge

parasite, sycophant, toady, leech, sponge mean a usually obsequious flatterer or self-seeker.

parasite applies to one who clings to a person of wealth, power, or influence or is useless to society.

a jet-setter with an entourage of parasites

sycophant adds to this a strong suggestion of fawning, flattery, or adulation.

a powerful prince surrounded by sycophants

toady emphasizes the servility and snobbery of the self-seeker.

cultivated leaders of society and became their toady

leech stresses persistence in clinging to or bleeding another for one's own advantage.

a leech living off his family and friends

sponge stresses the parasitic laziness, dependence, and opportunism of the cadger.

a shiftless sponge, always looking for a handout

Examples of sponge in a Sentence

Noun finally told the sponge to move out of their house and to get a job Verb She sponged up the spilt milk. He sponged off his face. She sponged the dirt off her shirt. She always sponges meals from us.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Rinse sponges with water while still attached to tongs throughout the cleaning process. Maryal Miller Carter, USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2024 Once that dries, sand smooth using 100-grit sandpaper or a medium-grit sanding block or sanding sponge. Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024 Meanwhile, Hawksbills like to feed on sponges found in coral reefs. Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 6 Mar. 2024 Get The Recipe 32 of 42 Orange Chiffon Cake Light, fluffy, and full of air, this citrus cake climbs high in a tube pan, resulting in a thick, tall sponge. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 12 Feb. 2024 Earth may have already passed 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming and could be soon heading for 2 degrees of warming, researchers have found after studying sea sponges in the Caribbean. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 5 Feb. 2024 This 10-piece set consists of 8- and 10-inch frying pans, 1- and 2-quart saucepans with lids, a 3-quart sauté pan with lid, a 5-quart stock pot with lid, and a cleaning sponge. Nor'adila Hepburn, Southern Living, 1 Mar. 2024 Xolair is an antibody drug that acts as a sponge, binding to IgE antibodies and preventing them from latching onto these cells. Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC News, 25 Feb. 2024 Unique sponge help researchers study climate The sponges Winter and the study’s authors researched aren’t the soft ocean sponges some might think of. Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 13 Feb. 2024
Verb
Unique sponge help researchers study climate The sponges Winter and the study’s authors researched aren’t the soft ocean sponges some might think of. Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 13 Feb. 2024 Along the way, the team, which started the mission on August 23, will continue to examine everything from deep-sea coral and sponge habitats to mud volcanoes. Tim Newcomb, Popular Mechanics, 7 Sep. 2023 In cleaning, use a wash tub and sponge or scrub that are just used for your pet. Leada Gore | Lgore@al.com, al, 21 Aug. 2023 If the towel underneath the stain becomes too stained, remove and replace it with a clean one and continue to sponge until no more ink is being removed from the garment. Lauren Smith McDonough, Good Housekeeping, 25 Jan. 2023 If that doesn't work, dip the rag or sponge into water mixed with a little dishwashing liquid, like Mrs. Meyer's Liquid Dish Soap (the milder the better). Hadley Mendelsohn, House Beautiful, 20 Jan. 2023 One group of bottlenose dolphins in Australia uses a technique called sponging to find food. Katherine Harmon Courage, Scientific American, 1 Sep. 2015 Do shrimp and sponge benefit equally from the arrangement, or are the shrimp more like parasites, who take, take, take, and never give back? Joseph Castro, Discover Magazine, 1 Aug. 2011 Floating near the Himalaya-high ceiling are fabric panels to sponge noise, the drinks list is as interesting as in a D.C. hot spot, and the person ferrying food from kitchen to table might be one of the two chef-owners. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 5 Oct. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sponge.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English, from Latin spongia, from Greek

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sponge was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near sponge

Cite this Entry

“Sponge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sponge. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

sponge

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: a springy mass of fibers and spicules that forms the skeleton of a group of aquatic animals and is able to absorb water freely
also : a piece of this material or of a natural or synthetic product with similar properties used especially for cleaning
b
: any of the phylum of primitive mostly marine animals that are the source of natural sponges, have a body of loosely connected cells with a skeleton supported by spicules or flexible fibers, and are filter feeders that live permanently attached to a solid surface as adults
2
: a pad (as of folded gauze) used in surgery and medicine (as to soak up fluids or apply medicine)
3
: one who lives on others : sponger
4
a
: raised dough (as for yeast bread)
b
: a whipped dessert usually containing egg whites

sponge

2 of 2 verb
sponged; sponging
1
: to clean or wipe with or as if with a sponge
2
: to absorb with or like a sponge
3
: to get something or live at the expense of another
sponger noun

Medical Definition

sponge

1 of 2 noun
1
: an elastic porous mass of interlacing horny fibers that forms the internal skeleton of various marine animals (phylum Porifera) and is able when wetted to absorb liquid
2
a
: a small pad made of multiple folds of gauze or of cotton and gauze used to mop blood from a surgical incision, to carry inhalant medicaments to the nose, or to cover a superficial wound as a dressing
b
: a porous dressing (as of fibrin or gelatin) applied to promote wound healing
c
: a plastic prosthesis used in chest cavities following lung surgery
3
: an absorbent contraceptive device impregnated with spermicide that is inserted into the vagina before sexual intercourse to cover the cervix and act as a barrier to sperm

sponge

2 of 2 transitive verb
sponged; sponging
: to cleanse, wipe, or moisten with or as if with a sponge
sponge the patient's back

More from Merriam-Webster on sponge

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