hydrogenate

1 of 2

verb

hy·​dro·​ge·​nate hī-ˈdrä-jə-ˌnāt  ˈhī-drə- 

hydrogenated; hydrogenating

transitive verb

: to combine or treat with or expose to hydrogen

especially : to add hydrogen to the molecule of (an unsaturated organic compound)

hydrogenation

hī-ˌdrä-jə-ˈnā-shən 

ˌhī-drə-

noun

hydrogenation

2 of 2

noun

hy·​dro·​gen·​a·​tion ˌhīdrə̇jə̇ˈnāshən 

hīˌdräjə̇ˈ-

plural -s

: the process of hydrogenating: such as

a

: the addition of hydrogen to the molecule of an unsaturated organic compound usually in the presence of a catalyst (as nickel) and often at elevated temperature and pressure

hydrogenation of benzene to cyclohexane

b

: a decomposition (as of hydrocarbons) at high temperature and pressure with addition of hydrogen to the molecules formed : hydrogenolysis

hydrogenation of coal to gasoline and oils

called also destructive hydrogenation

Examples of hydrogenate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Made with real cream and no artificial sweeteners, each 52-ounce carton is also carrageenan and hydrogenated oil-free. — Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 29 Apr. 2026

The other form, metallic palladium (Pd⁰), takes over afterward, hydrogenating the resulting fragments into stable compounds like cyclohexanol and cyclohexane. — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 29 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

International Scientific Vocabulary hydrogen + -ation

First Known Use

Verb

1809, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hydrogenate

• abbreviate
• accelerate
• accommodate
• accumulate
• acuminate
• adjudicate
• adulterate
• affiliate
• agglomerate
• agglutinate
• alleviate
• amalgamate

Kids Definition

hydrogenate

verb

hy·​dro·​ge·​nate hī-ˈdräj-ə-ˌnāt 

ˈhī-drə-jə-

hydrogenated; hydrogenating

: to combine or treat with hydrogen

especially : to add hydrogen to a molecule of

hydrogenate a vegetable oil to form a fat

hydrogenation

hī-ˌdräj-ə-ˈnā-shən 

ˌhī-drə-jə-

noun

Medical Definition

hydrogenate

transitive verb

hy·​dro·​ge·​nate hī-ˈdräj-ə-ˌnāt  ˈhī-drə-jə- 

hydrogenated; hydrogenating

: to combine or treat with or expose to hydrogen

especially : to add hydrogen to the molecule of (an unsaturated organic compound)

hydrogenation

hī-ˌdräj-ə-ˈnā-shən, ˌhī-drə-jə- 

noun