dehydrate

verb

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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

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 Hot showers will dehydrate and remove natural oils from your skin. — Grooming Playbook, The Salt Lake Tribune, 12 Apr. 2022 The duo fend off acne-causing bacteria, but do so in a way that doesn’t dehydrate your skin or lead to further irritation. — Joseph Deacetis, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2021 While water is essential to the health of your skin, too much exposure could dehydrate it and open up your pores, thereby giving moisture a clear running path to escape. — Joseph Deacetis, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2021 Any hot, moist air that's blowing down directly onto plant leaves is going to dehydrate them at a rapid pace. — Shanti Lerner, The Arizona Republic, 10 Dec. 2021 The foundation does, however, note that too much alcohol can dehydrate the body, disrupting the kidney's functions, and can also raise blood pressure, which can cause kidney disease. — Rachel Desantis, PEOPLE.com, 1 Dec. 2021 Its Super Convection setting reduces cooking time by 30%, and its 13 preset functions can do everything from bake to reheat to dehydrate. — Bon Appétit, 28 Nov. 2021 But solar cookers can be used to dehydrate and cure foods to preserve them for stretches of time when there is heavy cloud cover. — Nadia Leigh-hewitson, CNN, 21 Oct. 2021 Workshops on how to can fruits and vegetables and how to freeze and dehydrate foods will be held at the St. Charles and Elgin public libraries this month. — Beacon-news Staff, chicagotribune.com, 5 Sep. 2021 See More

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.

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