preheat

verb

pre·​heat (ˌ)prē-ˈhēt 

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

The same InstaGLO platform now sits at the core of a forthcoming oven combining microwave energy, high‑speed air, and infrared, eliminating the need to preheat and compressing what used to be a three‑step dance between microwave, oven, and broiler into one cycle. —Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026

Roasting vegetables directly on a bare baking sheet allows for maximum heat contact, which can lead to deeper browning and crisper edges—especially if the pan is preheated. —Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 21 Jan. 2026

Prepare a fire in a barbecue grill, preheat a gas grill or preheat a stove top grill over medium high heat. —Georgeanne Brennan, Mercury News, 15 Jan. 2026

Place cookie sheet in oven to preheat. —Kathryn Gregory, Louisville Courier Journal, 1 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1898, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for preheat

• amit
• athlete
• backseat
• blackfeet
• broadsheet
• browbeat
• buckwheat
• compete
• compleat
• complete
• conceit
• concrete

Kids Definition

preheat

verb

pre·​heat (ˈ)prē-ˈhēt 

: to heat beforehand

preheat the oven to 400 degrees