preheat
verb
pre·heat
(ˌ)prē-ˈhēt 
preheated; preheating; preheats
: 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
Your air fryer will preheat in less than half the time of your regular oven and then can put two salmon fillets or chicken breasts along with some vegetables in there and have dinner for two ready—stat.
—
Emily Johnson, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Sep. 2025
Melt coconut oil and olive oil blend in 6-cup casserole in preheating oven.
—Faye Levy, Oc Register, 9 Sep. 2025
Never heat an empty pan: Always add food or oil to protect the pan and absorb some of the heat when preheating.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2025
Be sure to preheat your pan on medium heat to warm the steel so food won’t stick.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for preheat
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.
Emily Johnson, Bon Appetit Magazine, 11 Sep. 2025
Melt coconut oil and olive oil blend in 6-cup casserole in preheating oven.
—Faye Levy, Oc Register, 9 Sep. 2025
Never heat an empty pan: Always add food or oil to protect the pan and absorb some of the heat when preheating.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2025
Be sure to preheat your pan on medium heat to warm the steel so food won’t stick.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 31 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for preheat
Cite this Entry
“Preheat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preheat. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
preheat
verb
pre·heat
(ˈ)prē-ˈhēt
: to heat beforehand
preheat the oven to 400 degrees
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share