as in to drown
to put (food, such as meat or fish) in a sauce for a period of time to add flavor or tenderize
The recipe says that you should marinate the chicken overnight.
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Recent Examples of marinate
One seasoning avenue is marinating meats, an age-old softening and flavoring technique that still works like magic.
—
Randi Gollin,
Martha Stewart,
16 June 2026
Similar to the chicken from one of your favorite fast food joints, this tender grilled chicken breast is marinated in pickle juice for extra flavor.
—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
15 June 2026
The Reuben sandwich may or may not have been invented in Omaha (New York lays claim to it, too), and the city’s iconic restaurants are mostly steak houses, such as the Drover, a sixty-year-old Midwestern time capsule with a full salad bar and whiskey-marinated fillets.
—
Hannah Goldfield,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
Cover and let sit at least 30 minutes and up to 12 hours (chill, if marinating longer than 30 minutes).
—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for marinate
Randi Gollin,
Martha Stewart,
16 June 2026
Similar to the chicken from one of your favorite fast food joints, this tender grilled chicken breast is marinated in pickle juice for extra flavor.
—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
15 June 2026
The Reuben sandwich may or may not have been invented in Omaha (New York lays claim to it, too), and the city’s iconic restaurants are mostly steak houses, such as the Drover, a sixty-year-old Midwestern time capsule with a full salad bar and whiskey-marinated fillets.
—
Hannah Goldfield,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
Cover and let sit at least 30 minutes and up to 12 hours (chill, if marinating longer than 30 minutes).
—
Shilpa Uskokovic,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for marinate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for marinate
Verb
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In May, even before summer arrived, the UK sweltered under a record-breaking heat wave, during which at least 19 people drowned in open water, 13 of them children, according to the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS).
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These opportunists drown out the core mission, creating a cacophony of competing voices that confuses donors, crowd the inboxes of CEOs and members of Congress with colliding petitions, and paralyzes meaningful action by draining critical funding and attention away from the truly effective groups.
Verb
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For the best texture, macerate the strawberries shortly before serving.
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From an acclaimed vineyard named for the shape of the hills behind it, their 2023 was macerated for 17 days and aged in 75 percent new French oak for 20 months.
Verb
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Today, the England and Panama flags looked completely soaked by the time they were rolled up again.
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Across the hall, the primary bath boasts similar indulgences with a sauna, soaking tub and triple-size rainwater shower.
Cite this Entry
“Marinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/marinate. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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