hydrate

1 of 2

verb

hy·​drate ˈhī-ˌdrāt 

hydrated; hydrating; hydrates

transitive verb

1

: to supply with ample fluid or moisture

hydrates and softens the skin

… a canopy equipped with nozzles that rain down a cool mist to hydrate the desert air …

—Jane Stern et al.

2

: to cause to take up or combine with water or the elements of water : to make into a hydrate

intransitive verb

1

: to drink fluids so as to achieve or maintain proper levels of water in the body

It's important to hydrate during long periods of exercise.

Taking care of my hair reminds me to take care of me—to rest, to hydrate, to nourish myself inside and out.

—CeCe Olisa

2

: to absorb or become saturated with water

Letting the dough rest allows the flour to hydrate.

3

: to become a chemical hydrate

hydration

hī-ˈdrā-shən 

noun

hydrator

ˈhī-ˌdrā-tər 

noun

plural hydrators

hydrate

2 of 2

noun

: a compound formed by the union of water with some other substance

Examples of hydrate in a Sentence

Verb

lotions and creams that hydrate the skin

Drink fluids to hydrate the body.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The whale did not eat as consistently as her fellow animals, which complicated the efforts to keep her well-fed and hydrated, according to the statement. — Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026

Allantoin is also included to hydrate and soothe the surrounding skin. — Camila Quimper, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026

Henry recommends keeping a travel-size moisturizer or hydrating mist on hand if your work environment tends to be dry. — Lindy Segal, Glamour, 22 Sep. 2026

It’s packed with reparative and nourishing ingredients like algae extract, moringa oil, and olive oil to hydrate and help seal split ends, with heat protection built in. — Valeriya Chupinina, Vogue, 22 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1942, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 2

Noun

1802, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing hydrate

• chloral hydrate

Rhymes for hydrate

• abate
• airfreight
• await
• baseplate
• berate
• birthdate
• birthrate
• bookplate
• borate
• breastplate
• bromate
• casemate

Kids Definition

hydrate

1 of 2 noun

hy·​drate ˈhī-ˌdrāt 

: a compound formed by the union of water with some other substance

a hydrate of copper sulfate

hydrate

2 of 2 verb

hydrated; hydrating

1

: to cause to take up or combine with water or the elements of water

2

: to supply with sufficient amounts of fluid or moisture

hydration

hī-ˈdrā-shən 

noun

Medical Definition

hydrate

1 of 2 noun

hy·​drate ˈhī-ˌdrāt 

: a compound (as Glauber's salt) formed by the union of water with some other substance

hydrate

2 of 2 verb

hydrated; hydrating

transitive verb

: to cause to take up or combine with water or the elements of water

intransitive verb

: to become a hydrate