preheat

verb

pre·​heat (ˌ)prē-ˈhēt How to pronounce preheat (audio)
preheated; preheating; preheats

transitive verb

: to heat (something) beforehand
especially : to heat (an oven) to a designated temperature before using for cooking
preheater noun

Examples of preheat in a Sentence

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees before you put the roast in.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Always preheat your oven before using glass dishes, and never place hot glassware on a cold surface or vice versa. Kait Hanson, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2025 Place a baking steel or stone in the top third of the oven and preheat the broiler. Katie Parla, Saveur, 30 Oct. 2025 This can also quickly cook your food without the need to preheat, saving plenty of time for busy people. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2025 The blanket heats up quickly, so there's no need to preheat. Brigitt Earley, Glamour, 20 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for preheat

Word History

First Known Use

1898, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of preheat was in 1898

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Preheat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preheat. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

preheat

verb
pre·​heat (ˈ)prē-ˈhēt How to pronounce preheat (audio)
: to heat beforehand
preheat the oven to 400 degrees

More from Merriam-Webster on preheat

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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