diluted; diluting
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
Michael Zeilik and John Gaustad4
: to decrease the per share value of (common stock) by increasing the total number of shares
Synonyms
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 WebKristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 11 Apr. 2024
The co-founders, in turn, have sued Mr. Trump for trying to dilute their stakes in the company.
—Laurent Belsie, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Apr. 2024
As a 1980s baby who came of age as rap became pop, Beyoncé has had a front-row seat to the ways the commercialization of hip-hop has often misconstrued, used, and diluted it.
—Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2024
The only way for the company to survive afterward was for the partners to dilute their ownership and take on additional investors.
—Marcela Valdes. Photographs and Videos By Peden + Munk, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
It’s also recommended to keep your feeder in a semi-protected place to avoid rain, which can dilute the nectar.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2024
The overall goal is to dilute and remove pollutants at a higher rate than they’re produced, to stop them from accumulating in indoor air.
—Laurie Winkless, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
The men are now suing Trump Media, claiming the company had worked to dilute their shares.
—Drew Harwell, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2024
But the Mexican corn cake helped dilute the sweetness and balance the dish.
—Brady MacDonald, Orange County Register, 8 Mar. 2024
Liz Roth-Johnson, Discover Magazine, 12 Feb. 2013
However toxic a substance may be, the amount of exposure received by the general population is very dilute.
—George Johnson, Discover Magazine, 8 July 2013
For example, Wilson’s team is exploring whether dilute acids speed up weathering.
—Robert F. Service, Science | AAAS, 3 Sep. 2020
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, 5 June 2018
Tests pick it up even in dilute wastewater,'' the story reports.
—Bob Warren, NOLA.com, 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, 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, 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, 27 Apr. 2017
Verb
Higher concentrated mixtures can be diluted for future use or used full strength for pest control.
—Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 11 Apr. 2024
The co-founders, in turn, have sued Mr. Trump for trying to dilute their stakes in the company.
—Laurent Belsie, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 Apr. 2024
As a 1980s baby who came of age as rap became pop, Beyoncé has had a front-row seat to the ways the commercialization of hip-hop has often misconstrued, used, and diluted it.
—Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2024
The only way for the company to survive afterward was for the partners to dilute their ownership and take on additional investors.
—Marcela Valdes. Photographs and Videos By Peden + Munk, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2024
It’s also recommended to keep your feeder in a semi-protected place to avoid rain, which can dilute the nectar.
—Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2024
The overall goal is to dilute and remove pollutants at a higher rate than they’re produced, to stop them from accumulating in indoor air.
—Laurie Winkless, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
The men are now suing Trump Media, claiming the company had worked to dilute their shares.
—Drew Harwell, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2024
But the Mexican corn cake helped dilute the sweetness and balance the dish.
—Brady MacDonald, Orange County Register, 8 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Vinegar, which is really dilute acetic acid, will help the milk curdle by further denaturing the whey proteins and neutralizing negative charges at the surface of casein micelles.
—Liz Roth-Johnson, Discover Magazine, 12 Feb. 2013
However toxic a substance may be, the amount of exposure received by the general population is very dilute.
—George Johnson, Discover Magazine, 8 July 2013
For example, Wilson’s team is exploring whether dilute acids speed up weathering.
—Robert F. Service, Science | AAAS, 3 Sep. 2020
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, 5 June 2018
Tests pick it up even in dilute wastewater,'' the story reports.
—Bob Warren, NOLA.com, 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, 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, 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, 27 Apr. 2017
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dilute.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Dictionary Entries Near dilute
Cite this Entry
“Dilute.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dilute. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
dilute
1 of 2 verb
di·lute
dī-ˈlüt 
də-
diluted; diluting
: to make thinner or more liquid by adding in and mixing something
added water to dilute the punch
dilute
2 of 2 adjective
: lacking normal strength especially as a result of being diluted
Medical Definition
dilute
1 of 2 transitive verb
di·lute
dī-ˈlüt, də-
diluted; diluting
: to make thinner or more liquid by admixture
dilute
2 of 2 adjective
: of relatively low strength or concentration
a dilute solution
Legal Definition
More from Merriam-Webster on dilute
Nglish: Translation of dilute for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of dilute for Arabic Speakers
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