dehydrate

verb

de·hy·drate | \(ˌ)dē-ˈhī-ˌdrāt

Definition of dehydrate

transitive verb

1a : 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

Other Words from dehydrate Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about dehydrate

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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

Now Lab Series a skin care company for men, is promoting its Future Rescue Repair Serum, a high-performance, concentrated, daily antiaging treatment that is the perfect travel companion for dehydrated, thirsty skin. — Necee Regis, BostonGlobe.com, "Here, there, and everywhere," 1 May 2018 But, most importantly, it’s filled with L-carnitine, which, just like caffeine, can temporarily minimize the appearance of cellulite, thanks to its fat-dehydrating properties. — Chloe Metzger, Marie Claire, "Because You’ve Been Wondering: Do Skin-Firming Creams Really Work?," 24 Oct. 2017 Paramedics spirited her to a nearby hospital, where doctors determined that she was severely dehydrated; at 90/60, her blood pressure was worrisomely low. — Sandra G. Boodman, Washington Post, "Her doctor said she had the flu. It took years to find the real, and strange, illness.," 23 June 2018 The suits dehydrate the body, and any weight lost from sweating will come back once the user drinks water. — USA TODAY, "The biggest exercise fad the year you were born," 12 July 2018 The stork is dehydrated but nibbled on a small fish and is in surprisingly good condition despite going without food for at least seven days, Nair said. — Annie Gowen, Washington Post, "A photo of an Indian bird with its beak shut by a plastic ring went viral. Now he's been rescued.," 13 June 2018 Giorgia Linardi says many of the passengers were dehydrated from their journeys and the wait for port authorization. — Fox News, "Italy's populists accuse Malta of refusing migrants port," 9 June 2018 She was covered in ticks and dehydrated but had no obvious serious injuries. — Darcy Costello, The Courier-Journal, "Charge dismissed against grandma of Bullitt toddler who went missing," 28 June 2018 My combination skin, usually dehydrated yet still oily around my forehead, looked more even textured and hydrated. — Sarah Ban, SELF, "I Tried Hypnosis for Insomnia. Then My Skin Cleared Up.," 1 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dehydrate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.