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

With a vaccine shortage looming, experts have debated whether to dilute the remaining doses so they can be spread among more people as the outbreak grows. — Emily Baumgaertner, latimes.com, "As Ebola outbreak rages, the world just watches. Some call it 'malignant neglect'," 2 July 2019 The ministry urged Austrians to dilute fruit juices with water. — Washington Post, "Melting autobahns, jaguars in pools, naked men on scooters. Europe faces an early summer ‘inferno’," 27 June 2019 But the challengers saw the House’s target of 55% black voters in these districts as excessive and designed to dilute black voting influence in surrounding areas. — S.m. | New York, The Economist, "The Supreme Court sinks a Republican gerrymander in Virginia," 18 June 2019 The website also notes that Starbucks uses hot water to dilute the chai concentrate in the latte, so ordering the drink without water, as Kardashian recommends, will create a much stronger chai taste. — Helen Murphy, PEOPLE.com, "Khloé Kardashian Reveals Her Go-To Starbucks Order — And It Includes 'Seven Pumps' of Chai Mix," 13 June 2019 That is especially so because of new Democratic Party rules that have diluted the influence of party insiders known as superdelegates, making the delegates scooped up in each congressional district all the more important. — Melanie Mason, latimes.com, "California’s long-overlooked Central Valley holds new allure for 2020 candidates," 4 June 2019 Just like most other shower products, a single squirt on a wet washcloth will do the trick, and the water in your shower will dilute it to the proper potency. — Rebekah Lowin, Country Living, "13 Castile Soap Uses You've Never Thought of Before," 22 May 2019 The result: a spiral as both parties compete to dilute the power of each others’ voters. — German Lopez, Vox, "The right to vote is under siege in 2018," 6 Nov. 2018 The Trump administration’s decision to ask people about their citizenship has set off worries among Democrats that immigrants will dodge the survey altogether, diluting political representation and robbing some communities of federal dollars. — Kevin Freking, The Seattle Times, "Dems want Ross to clarify origins of citizenship question," 24 July 2018

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.