drained
drained — adjective
1. feeling extremely tired, as if all of your energy has been used up and you have
feeling extremely tired, as if all of your energy has been used up and you have nothing left — for example, after running a race, working a long shift, or studying for many hours
After running the marathon, Mei-Lin felt completely drained and lay on the grass to rest.
collocation: feel + drained
The nurses on the night shift looked drained after working all weekend without a break.
collocation: look + drained
By Friday afternoon, Theo felt mentally drained from studying for five different exams.
Caring for her sick mother left Amara feeling drained in both body and mind.
After three hours of meetings, everyone in the conference room looked completely drained.
文法句型
feel/look + drained
常見錯誤
drained — verb
1. to remove liquid from a place or container by letting it flow out, usually throu
to remove liquid from a place or container by letting it flow out, usually through a pipe, a hole, or by tipping — for example, draining water from a tank, oil from an engine, or a flooded basement
The plumber drained the old water heater before taking it out of the basement.
drain + [container] + before + [action]
Vikram drained the oil from the deep fryer and wiped the basket clean.
drain + [liquid] + from + [container]
Farmers drained the flooded rice fields by cutting channels to the river.
The mechanic drained the old engine oil and replaced it with a fresh supply.
After the storm, workers used pumps to drain water from the underground car park.
- fill
to put liquid into a container
文法句型
drain + [liquid] + from + [container/place]
drain + [container]
用法筆記
The direct object is either the liquid being removed (drain the oil) or the container/place being emptied (drain the tank). When both are stated, use the pattern 'drain + liquid + from + place'. Frequently used with 'out' for emphasis: 'drain out the water'.
常見錯誤
2. (of a liquid) to flow away gradually from a place until it is gone — for example
(of a liquid) to flow away gradually from a place until it is gone — for example, water draining through soil, or soapy water flowing out of a sink
The rainwater drained slowly through the sandy soil in the garden.
drain + through + [porous surface]
Lucia pulled the plug and watched the soapy water drain from the sink.
As the tide went out, the seawater drained from the shallow bay into the open ocean.
The floodwater drained away within a few hours after the rain stopped.
Blood drained from the wound and formed a small dark pool on the floor.
- accumulate
to build up or collect instead of flowing away
文法句型
[liquid] + drains + (away/off/out) + (from/into) + [place]
用法筆記
The subject is the liquid itself (water, blood, oil) or a body of liquid (lake, pool). No direct object. Often paired with directional particles: 'drain away', 'drain off', 'drain out'. Distinguish from sense 1, where someone actively removes the liquid.
常見錯誤
3. to use up all or most of something valuable, such as energy, money, or patience,
to use up all or most of something valuable, such as energy, money, or patience, so that little or nothing remains — for example, a long legal case draining a family's savings, or a stressful job draining a person's energy
The legal battle drained the family's entire savings over two years.
drain + [financial resource]
Raising three young children on her own drained Priyanka's energy completely.
The long war drained the country's resources and damaged the economy badly.
Constant criticism from his boss drained Omar's confidence in his own abilities.
The hospital's emergency funds were drained by the cost of treating so many patients.
文法句型
drain + [resource] (energy/money/savings/confidence)
drain + [person] + of + [resource]
用法筆記
The object is always a quantifiable or measurable resource: money, energy, time, patience, confidence, resources. Can be used in the pattern 'drain someone of something': 'The experience drained him of all hope.' Can be literal (financial drain) or figurative (emotional drain).
常見錯誤
4. to drink all of the liquid in a glass, cup, or other container, leaving it empty
to drink all of the liquid in a glass, cup, or other container, leaving it empty — often done quickly or in one long action
Haruki drained his coffee mug and rushed out the door to catch the bus.
drain + [container] + and + [next action]
After the long run, Yuna drained a whole bottle of water in thirty seconds.
The guests drained every glass of juice at the party before the meal even started.
Kwame raised his glass for the toast and drained it in a single gulp.
Eli drained the last drops from his teacup before setting it down on the saucer.
文法句型
drain + [container] (glass/cup/bottle/mug)
用法筆記
The object must be the container (glass, cup, bottle, mug), not the liquid. You drain a glass, not water. If you want to mention what was drunk, use 'from': 'He drained the last of the wine from his glass.' Frequently suggests speed or thoroughness.
常見錯誤
5. (of a feeling, quality, or supply) to become steadily weaker, smaller, or less n
(of a feeling, quality, or supply) to become steadily weaker, smaller, or less noticeable until it disappears completely — for example, hope draining from someone's face, or colour draining from a room
All hope of finding survivors drained away as the days passed without news.
hope + drain away — abstract subject
The colour drained from Clara's face when the doctor gave her the results.
colour + drain from + [face] — physical manifestation of shock
The energy in the phone battery drains faster if you keep the screen very bright.
As the old man spoke calmly, the tension drained from the room little by little.
All the excitement drained out of the children when they heard the game was cancelled.
文法句型
[abstract thing] + drains + (away/out of/from) + [person/place]
用法筆記
Used almost exclusively with abstract subjects: hope, colour, tension, excitement, energy, enthusiasm, confidence. The subject is what disappears, not what causes the disappearance. Often appears in the phrase 'drain away' for gradual, complete disappearance.
常見錯誤
drained — noun
1. a pipe, tube, or opening that carries away water or other liquid from a place —
a pipe, tube, or opening that carries away water or other liquid from a place — for example, the pipe under a kitchen sink or the hole in a shower floor
The kitchen drain was blocked with leftover food and cooking grease.
the + [location] + drain
Autumn leaves fell into the garden drain and stopped the water from flowing away.
The plumber removed the cover from the bathroom drain and cleared the hair clog.
Water from the roof flows through a metal drain pipe down to the street below.
Nadia poured bleach down the shower drain to kill the mould inside the pipe.
文法句型
the + [location] + drain
drain + noun (drain pipe, drain cover, drain hole)
用法筆記
Refers to the physical fixture — the pipe or opening itself. Common everyday use: 'down the drain' appears in idioms meaning wasted or lost. Distinguish from sense 3 (the abstract process) by checking if a physical pipe or opening is involved.
常見錯誤
2. something that continuously uses up a large amount of money, time, energy, or ot
something that continuously uses up a large amount of money, time, energy, or other resources, creating a heavy demand on a person, family, or organisation
Paying for private school fees was a constant drain on the family's monthly budget.
a drain on + [financial resource]
The old heating system is a huge drain on the building's electricity supply every winter.
a drain on + [energy resource]
Caring for her elderly parents became a serious drain on Ananya's time and energy.
The military budget is often described as a massive drain on the nation's tax money.
Running an old car with frequent repairs can be a real drain on your savings.
文法句型
a drain on + [resource] (budget/energy/time/economy)
用法筆記
Almost always followed by 'on' + the resource being consumed (a drain on time, a drain on the economy). The noun is typically singular with 'a'. Common in financial and household contexts. Do not confuse with noun sense 1 — this is an abstract burden, not a physical pipe.
常見錯誤
3. the process by which something gradually leaves, disappears, or is removed from
the process by which something gradually leaves, disappears, or is removed from a place — for example, the movement of skilled workers away from a region, or the steady loss of money from a fund
The slow drain of young people from small towns worries local business owners.
the + [adjective] + drain of + [people]
Doctors recommended immediate drain of the fluid that had built up around his lung.
immediate drain of + [fluid] — medical context
The country faces a steady drain of skilled nurses moving abroad for better salaries.
The constant drain of money from the project left it unfinished after just six months.
Proper drain of the swimming pool before winter prevents damage from frozen water.
文法句型
the drain of + [resource/person]
a + [adjective] + drain of + [noun]
用法筆記
Focuses on the process or act of draining (like 'drainage'), not the physical pipe. Often appears with adjectives describing speed or regularity: slow, steady, constant, rapid. Common in news and formal writing about population movement ('brain drain') or financial flows.