dehydrate

verb

de·​hy·​drate (ˌ)dē-ˈhī-ˌdrāt How to pronounce dehydrate (audio)
dehydrated; dehydrating; dehydrates

transitive verb

1
a
: to remove bound water or hydrogen and oxygen from (a chemical compound) in the proportion in which they form water
b
: to remove water from (something, such as a food)
2
: to deprive of vitality or savor

intransitive verb

: to lose water or body fluids
dehydrator noun

Did you know?

Dehydrating food is a good way to preserve it; raisins, which are dehydrated grapes, are a good example. Dehydration through industrial processes makes it possible to keep food even longer and store it in a smaller space. Freeze-drying produces food that only needs rehydration—that is, the addition of water—to restore its original consistency. Runners, cyclists, and hikers fearful of dehydration seem to be constantly hydrating themselves nowadays, sometimes even using a shoulder pack with a tube going straight into the mouth. Dehydrate can also be used for making something "dry" or "lifeless;" thus, a dull teacher can dehydrate American history, and an unimaginative staging can dehydrate a great Shakespeare play.

Examples of dehydrate in a Sentence

Salt dehydrates the meat and keeps it from spoiling. Athletes drink lots of water so they don't dehydrate. Exercising in this heat will dehydrate you.
Recent Examples on the Web Hall said when his son was found, he was severely dehydrated, hungry and covered in filth. Theresa Vargas, Washington Post, 6 Mar. 2024 Depending on the species of tardigrade, individuals need more or less time to dehydrate and not all specimens of the same species manage to return to active life. Laurent Palka, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024 He was dehydrated, had severe diaper rash, but otherwise was uninjured. Kevin Grasha, The Enquirer, 23 Feb. 2024 She was given an IV – dehydrated after losing so much blood. Jericka Duncan, CBS News, 26 Jan. 2024 Dehydration You may be dehydrated if your urine is amber or dark orange. Dr. Roshini Raj, Health, 4 Jan. 2024 In a 2017 study, researchers measured body temperature, heart rate and hydration levels of Florida agricultural workers and found they were often seriously dehydrated. Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2024 And if you’re dehydrated from, say, a medical condition or simply not drinking enough, this problem’s just going to get worse. Julia Ries, SELF, 11 Jan. 2024 Sure pickling, fermenting, and dehydrating the season’s bounty will never go out of style, but at-home infusion machines are giving gardeners another way to preserve our harvests in new and exciting ways. Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 20 Dec. 2023

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

Word History

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of dehydrate was in 1876

Dictionary Entries Near dehydrate

Cite this Entry

“Dehydrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dehydrate. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

dehydrate

verb
de·​hy·​drate (ˈ)dē-ˈhī-ˌdrāt How to pronounce dehydrate (audio)
1
: to remove water from (as foods)
2
: to lose water or body fluids
dehydration
ˌdē-ˌhī-ˈdrā-shən
noun

Medical Definition

dehydrate

verb
de·​hy·​drate (ˈ)dē-ˈhī-ˌdrāt How to pronounce dehydrate (audio)
dehydrated; dehydrating

transitive verb

1
: to remove bound water or hydrogen and oxygen from (a chemical compound) in the proportion in which they form water
2
: to remove water from (as foods)

intransitive verb

: to lose water or body fluids
dehydrator noun

More from Merriam-Webster on dehydrate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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