empapar
verbCEFR B2
What does “empapar” mean in English?
to soak, to immerse
to soak, to immerse (empaparse de — reflexive: immerse oneself in a subject)
Example sentences
Para elaborar el análisis, los investigadores se empaparon de la literatura científica más reciente sobre el tema.
To produce the analysis, the researchers immersed themselves in the most recent scientific literature on the topic.
Llegó empapado a la reunión porque no había llevado paraguas y la lluvia fue torrencial.
He arrived drenched at the meeting because he had not brought an umbrella and the rain was torrential.
Antes de negociar, conviene empaparse bien de los antecedentes del caso.
Before negotiating, it is worth thoroughly absorbing the background to the case.
How to use it
Empapar means 'to soak' or 'to drench'. Literal: la lluvia lo empapó (the rain soaked him). Figurative — the key B2 use — empaparse de algo (to immerse oneself in, to absorb thoroughly): empaparse de la literatura (soak up the literature). The reflexive empaparse is the figurative form. It implies thorough, deep absorption rather than surface contact. Contrast absorber (to absorb — more neutral/technical) and saturar (to saturate — often negative).
Common mistake
Empaparse de (absorb knowledge) is a marked, somewhat vivid metaphor — it is appropriate but not as common as imbuirse de or documentarse. In the literal sense, empapado is the useful adjective form. Don't confuse with mojar (to wet/get wet — milder) or saturar (which implies an overload that is negative).