decant

verb

de·​cant di-ˈkant 

dē-

decanted; decanting; decants

transitive verb

1

: to draw off (a liquid) without disturbing the sediment or the lower liquid layers

2

: to pour (a liquid, such as wine) from one vessel into another

decanted the wine before the meal

3

: to pour out, transfer, or unload as if by pouring

I was decanted from the car …

—Ursula G. Bower

decantation

ˌdē-ˌkan-ˈtā-shən 

noun

Examples of decant in a Sentence

The bottles were uncorked and the wine was decanted an hour before the meal.

Recent Examples on the Web

But decanting as a general matter cannot change or add beneficiaries to a trust. —Martin Shenkman, Forbes.com, 30 June 2025

Although an irrevocable trust might be modified by various techniques after it is created (decanting, non-judicial modification, etc.), not everything can be changed, there are limits. —Martin Shenkman, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025

Full-bodied reds usually require one to two hours of decanting. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2025

Plan ahead by decanting your essentials into lightweight travel-sized containers. —Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 24 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin decantare, from Latin de- + Medieval Latin cantus edge, from Latin, iron ring round a wheel — more at cant entry 4

First Known Use

1633, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for decant

• descant
• eggplant
• enchant
• explant
• implant
• preplant
• recant
• replant
• secant
• supplant
• transplant
• ant

Kids Definition

decant

verb

de·​cant di-ˈkant 

: to pour from one container into another

decantation

ˌdē-ˌkan-ˈtā-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

decant

transitive verb

de·​cant di-ˈkant 

: to draw off (a liquid) without disturbing the sediment or the lower liquid layers

decantation

ˌdē-ˌkan-ˈtā-shən 

noun