dehydrate

verb

de·hy·drate | \ (ˌ)dē-ˈhī-ˌdrāt

dehydrated; dehydrating; dehydrates

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

Fever dehydrates your system, in part through increased sweating from that elevated temperature. — Mark Fischetti, Scientific American, "Fact or Fiction?: Feed a Cold, Starve a Fever," 3 Jan. 2014 The heat can dehydrate laborers, and higher temperatures demand more frequent breaks. — Umair Irfan, Vox, "Extreme heat has already killed several outdoor workers this summer, and climate change will heat waves more costly.," 27 July 2018 Here was the toxicity of social media for all to see: a sunbaked scene of disaster tents, soaked mattresses, and millennials with roller bags looking wide-eyed and dehydrated. — Taylor Antrim, Vogue, "Netflix’s Fyre Is a Story You Have to See to Believe," 15 Jan. 2019 The vet informed Taylor that in addition to being dehydrated, O.G.'s brain was swelling due to high levels of sodium. — Amanda Garrity, Good Housekeeping, "6-Year-Old Dog Dies From Saltwater Poisoning After a Playful Day at the Beach," 20 July 2018 Many arrived dehydrated, with ulcers and calluses on their feet. — Juan Montes, WSJ, "Caravan Heads North After Migrants Cross Into Mexico," 22 Oct. 2018 Excessive amounts of alcohol can dehydrate and damage your skin, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. 7. — Barbara Brody, Good Housekeeping, "7 Women Over 40 Share the Healthy Aging Secrets They Swear By," 3 Aug. 2018 Courtesy Fuel your coffee addiction (which, btw, doesn't dehydrate you) and add this Keurig to your cart before the Prime Day sale ends. — Rachel Epstein, Marie Claire, "For Amazon Prime Day, This Keurig Is Almost 40 Percent Off," 16 July 2018 Buds already past their prime were completely dehydrated Tuesday during a visit to the gardens, and singed brown leaves could be seen not only on camellia shrubs but also on ferns and the new growth of surrounding oak trees. — Sara Cardine, latimes.com, "Acres of historic camellias at Descanso Gardens scorched during weekend’s triple-digit heat," 12 July 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.