saturate

1 of 3

verb

sat·​u·​rate ˈsa-chə-ˌrāt 

saturated; saturating

transitive verb

1

: to satisfy fully : satiate

2

: to treat, furnish, or charge with something to the point where no more can be absorbed, dissolved, or retained

water saturated with salt

3

a

: to fill completely with something that permeates or pervades

… book is saturated with Hollywood …

—Newgate Callendar

b

: to load to capacity

4

: to cause to combine until there is no further tendency to combine

saturator

ˈsa-chə-ˌrā-tər 

noun

saturate

2 of 3

adjective

sat·​u·​rate ˈsa-chə-rət 

ˈsach-rət

: saturated

saturator

3 of 3

noun

sat·​u·​ra·​tor ˈsachəˌrātə(r) 

-ātə-

plural -s

: one that saturates: such as

a

: a tank containing sulfuric acid through which vapors are passed in the carbonization of coal to remove ammonia with the formation of ammonium sulfate

b

: humidifier sense 1

c

: a device for injecting water spray into heated compressed air to cool the air

d

: an operator of a machine for saturating roofing felt with hot asphalt

Synonyms of saturate

Verb

• soak
• drown
• drench
• impregnate
• immerse

Adjective

• saturated
• dripping
• bathed
• soaked
• soaking
• flooded

Choose the Right Synonym for saturate

soak, saturate, drench, steep, impregnate mean to permeate or be permeated with a liquid.

soak implies usually prolonged immersion as for softening or cleansing.

soak the garment in soapy water

saturate implies a resulting effect of complete absorption until no more liquid can be held.

a saturated sponge

drench implies a thorough wetting by something that pours down or is poured.

clothes drenched by a cloudburst

steep suggests either the extraction of an essence (as of tea leaves) by the liquid or the imparting of a quality (such as a color) to the thing immersed.

steep the tea for five minutes

impregnate implies a thorough interpenetration of one thing by another.

a cake strongly impregnated with brandy

Examples of saturate in a Sentence

Verb

Saturate the sponge with water.

Images of the war saturated the news.

Their new products are saturating the market.

Adjective

the test will only work if the sample cloth is saturate with solution

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Feeling like finding this 950-square-foot apartment was kismet, Miranda-Martin signed the lease and set about creating a sophisticated and color-saturated sanctuary. — Marissa Gluck, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026

Spray the hydrogen peroxide directly onto the mold in the shower, making sure the areas are saturated. — Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 25 June 2026

Adjective

Depending on the color of your boots, use slightly more or less water—but never fully saturate in any case. — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 21 Feb. 2026

When TikTok virality and playlist automation saturate listeners’ attention, artistic sameness threatens to rule the day—but independent artists on their own unique paths are still with us. — Jenn Pelly, Time, 7 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb and Noun

Latin saturatus, past participle of saturare, from satur well-fed

First Known Use

Verb

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1656, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for saturate

• abdicate
• abrogate
• acetate
• activate
• actuate
• aggravate
• agitate
• alginate
• alienate
• allocate
• amputate
• angulate

Kids Definition

saturate

verb

sat·​u·​rate

ˈsach-ə-ˌrāt

saturated; saturating

1

: to soak or fill with something to the point where no more can be absorbed or dissolved

saturate water with salt

2

: to fill completely with something that penetrates : steep

Medical Definition

saturate

1 of 2 transitive verb

sat·​u·​rate ˈsach-ə-ˌrāt 

saturated; saturating

1

: to treat, furnish, or charge with something to the point where no more can be absorbed, dissolved, or retained

water saturated with salt

a bandage saturated with blood

2

: to cause to combine until there is no further tendency to combine

saturate

2 of 2 noun

sat·​u·​rate -rət 

: a saturated chemical compound