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

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

Essentially, decanting means to transfer the contents of one container into another. —Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Sep. 2024

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