dilute

verb

di·lute | \ dī-ˈlüt

, də-\

diluted; diluting

Definition of dilute

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : attenuate dilute the power of the mayoralty diluting the quality of the finished product

2 : to make thinner or more liquid by admixture diluted the bleach with water diluting juice with water

3 : to diminish the strength, flavor, or brilliance of (something) by or as if by admixture dilute a color But spreading the light out also dilutes it …— Michael Zeilik and John Gaustad

4 : to decrease the per share value of (common stock) by increasing the total number of shares

dilute

adjective

Definition of dilute (Entry 2 of 2)

: weak, diluted a dilute acid solution

Other Words from dilute Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about dilute

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Other Words from dilute

Verb

diluter or dilutor \ dī-ˈlü-tər

, də- \ noun

dilutive \ dī-ˈlü-tiv

, də- \ adjective

Adjective

diluteness noun

Synonyms & Antonyms for dilute

Synonyms: Verb

adulterate, cut, extend, lace, sophisticate, thin, water down, weaken

Synonyms: Adjective

diluted, thin, thinned, washy, watery, weak, weakened

Antonyms: Verb

enrich, fortify, richen, strengthen

Antonyms: Adjective

full-bodied, rich, strong

Examples of dilute in a Sentence

Verb

You can dilute the medicine with water. The hiring of the new CEO diluted the power of the company's president. diluting the quality of our products

Adjective

a dilute solution of acid a dilute acid that's safe to handle in the classroom

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Members of the Stop EtO in Lake County group contend the project, scheduled to be considered Sept. 3 by the Waukegan City Council, would allow Medline to dilute its pollution rather than limit the toxic emissions. — Michael Hawthorne, chicagotribune.com, "A year later, fight against ethylene oxide persists: ‘These folks aren’t going away.’," 30 Aug. 2019 Then, strain it and dilute the solution with more water. — Jessica Ourisman, Good Housekeeping, "What Rice Water Can Do For Your Hair, According to Experts," 5 Aug. 2019 State map-drawers know well how prisons can be used to strengthen or dilute electoral power. — Matt Ford, The New Republic, "How Prisons Inflate Rural Voters’ Power," 2 Aug. 2019 The same seems to be true for diluting the coffee, like with milk in a latte, says Dr. Staller. — Korin Miller, Health.com, "Why Does Drinking Coffee Always Make You Poop?," 30 July 2019 The marrow, diluted in saline, was then dripped into Nancy’s bloodstream. — Siddhartha Mukherjee, The New Yorker, "The Promise and Price of Cellular Therapies," 15 July 2019 With the dawn of the Industrial Age, humans began emitting much more carbon dioxide, diluting the amount of radiocarbon in the atmosphere. — Erin Blakemore, National Geographic, "Radiocarbon helps date ancient objects—but it's not perfect," 12 July 2019 The majority of Thomas Cook’s debt would be swapped into equity, diluting existing shareholders of the company. — Nina Trentmann, WSJ, "Travel Operator Thomas Cook Seeks Financial Lifeline From China’s Fosun," 12 July 2019 In an interview with cleveland.com, McShepard said Cleveland might never have elected an African American as mayor of a unified government because the merger of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County would have diluted the black vote. — Peter Krouse, cleveland.com, "What might be different today if Cleveland and Cuyahoga County had merged decades ago? Cleveland 2030, A Way Forward," 12 July 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective

The company reported a net loss during the first quarter of $3.9 million, or 11 cents diluted loss per share, compared to a net income of $4.3 million, or 12 cents dilute earnings per share over the same period last year. — Paul Takahashi, Houston Chronicle, "Francesca’s to focus on back-to-school sales to boost subpar earnings," 5 June 2018 Tests pick it up even in dilute wastewater,'' the story reports. — Bob Warren, NOLA.com, "Flush by flush, Canada collecting marijuana data: report," 15 Apr. 2018 Of the plants previously watered with very dilute vinegar, 70 percent survived while almost none of those that were given other acids or only water did. — Carolyln Wilke, sacbee, "Vinegar can help plants survive drought," 30 June 2017 A dilute sample is when a player drinks so much water, the urine test administered is ineffective because of the excess water consumption. — Doug Lesmerises, cleveland.com, "Joe Thomas defended Jabrill Peppers even before they were teammates: Doug Lesmerises," 16 May 2017 Dallas Cowboys Bob’s pick: Jabril Peppers, DB/LB, Michigan Comment: A dilute sample on a drug test might cause some teams pause about Peppers. — Jayson Jenks, The Seattle Times, "2017 NFL mock draft from Bob Condotta and Jayson Jenks," 27 Apr. 2017 Cincinnati: LB Reuben Foster, Alabama (6-0, 229) — A dilute sample at the combine? — Jerry Mcdonald, The Mercury News, "Mock Draft: The 49ers and Raiders will select…," 26 Apr. 2017 These works contained a very dilute formaldehyde solution that was contained within sealed tanks. — Christopher D. Shea, New York Times, "Damien Hirst’s Art May Have Leaked Formaldehyde Fumes, Study Says," 21 Apr. 2016 Peppers, who begins his career in Stage One of the NFL's drug program because of a dilute sample at the NFL Combine, had no idea where Parr got her information. — Mary Kay Cabot, cleveland.com, "Browns' Jabrill Peppers: 'I've never done' those drugs 'in my life'," 12 May 2017

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