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

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 To create it, the culinary team employs a multistep technique that involves scraping any excess fat off the skin, then dehydrating it before frying and stretching it to its maximum potential length. — Charles Passy, WSJ, "Pork Rinds With an Upscale Twist," 6 Sep. 2018 At times, cast members truly seem to be in serious trouble: dehydrated, hungry, exhausted. — Jerry Beilinson, Popular Mechanics, "Confessions of a Reality-Show Survival Guide," 9 Oct. 2013 He hadn't nursed in several days and was dehydrated. — Tiffini Theisen, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Tourists help save life of orphaned baby manatee," 11 Apr. 2018 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

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.