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

To prevent disasters, Jones decants liquids into travel-size jars and bottles, stores them in a clear zip bag, and keeps them separate from clothes. —Alesandra Dubin, Southern Living, 29 Sep. 2025

Wide-mouth jars with screw-on lids for decanting pantry goods and for storing leftovers in the fridge. —Amy Panos, Better Homes & Gardens, 2 Sep. 2025

Carry-on Size Toiletry Bottles Kitsch 11-piece Travel Bottles for Toiletries With over 2,000 five-star reviews, these refillable bottles are TSA-compliant, leak-proof, and perfect for decanting your favorite shampoo, conditioner, face wash, and more. —Julie Rousseau, Travel + Leisure, 19 July 2025

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