French word

puiser

Pronunciation

IPA/pɥize/

Meaning

  • verbdraw

Example

Il faut puiser de l'eau au puits.

Water must be drawn from the well.

Illustration for puiser (draw)

More examples

Elle doit puiser dans ses économies.

She must draw on her savings.

Core concept

A hand drawing water from a well, extended to drawing resources or ideas from a source.

Common phrases

  • puiser de l'eau

    draw water

  • puiser dans ses réserves

    draw on one's reserves

  • puiser son inspiration

    draw inspiration

Similar words

obtenir: To obtain something through effort or by using available means.
prendre: To grasp and take something with the hand or a tool.
tirer: To pull something out by applying force.
retirer: To remove something from a place or state and bring it back.

Definition in French

Prendre ou retirer quelque chose à partir d'une source, que ce soit un liquide, une ressource ou une information.

Word origin

The verb puiser comes through Old French puisier from puits, ultimately from Latin puteus, and its meaning broadened beyond drawing water.

Usage tips

  • With abstract sources, puiser commonly takes dans, as in puiser dans ses ressources; water can be drawn au puits or dans un puits.

Other meanings

  • draw on ___verb
  • extract ___verb
  • derive from ___verb

Opposites

Word lists with this word