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
Pour in half of the marinade, reserving the rest for later.
Let everything marinate for at least 30 minutes in the fridge.
—
Ashia Aubourg, Outside Online, 24 May 2025
Add the Umami Sauce 2.0 [or your favorite marinade] and set aside to marinate for about 10 minutes.
—Michael Greger, Flow Space, 24 Apr. 2025
Fraser, most recently the author of a biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder, which won a Pulitzer, seems an unlikely candidate to spend years of her life marinating in the granular minutiae of serial killers.
—Sarah Weinman, The Atlantic, 18 June 2025
At Sandals’ Jerk Shacks, chefs stay true to that tradition by marinating chicken, pork, and fish in a fiery mix of Scotch bonnet peppers, thyme, and allspice, then grilling it over pimento wood.
—Sandals Resorts, AFAR Media, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for marinate
Ashia Aubourg, Outside Online, 24 May 2025
Add the Umami Sauce 2.0 [or your favorite marinade] and set aside to marinate for about 10 minutes.
—Michael Greger, Flow Space, 24 Apr. 2025
Fraser, most recently the author of a biography of Laura Ingalls Wilder, which won a Pulitzer, seems an unlikely candidate to spend years of her life marinating in the granular minutiae of serial killers.
—Sarah Weinman, The Atlantic, 18 June 2025
At Sandals’ Jerk Shacks, chefs stay true to that tradition by marinating chicken, pork, and fish in a fiery mix of Scotch bonnet peppers, thyme, and allspice, then grilling it over pimento wood.
—Sandals Resorts, AFAR Media, 2 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for marinate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for marinate
Verb
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In 2024, 34 kids with autism drowned in Florida — half of the national total.—
Karen Cohn,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 July 2025
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Flash floods drowned portions of the state's Hill Country on the Fourth of July, spurred by nearly unprecedented rainfall that swelled the Guadalupe River.—
Becca Longmire,
People.com,
7 July 2025
Verb
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The grapes were macerated for four to five days using the must from gravity pressing, then treated to cold clarification and stabilization, with no second fermentation, spending one month in bottle to emerge at 11% alcohol.—
John Mariani,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
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This means that each botanical is macerated in the spirit for a different length of time and at a specific ABV, which Gabriel believes allows the flavor of the particular spice, herb, or flower to truly shine through.—
Jonah Flicker,
Robb Report,
27 June 2025
Verb
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Overnight storms soaked parts of the Kansas City area, with the heaviest rains falling in Wyandotte County and the Northland, according to storm gauges across the metro.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
27 June 2025
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Minimal skin contact — juice soaks with skins for a few hours, gaining slightly deeper color and flavor than direct press.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
26 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Marinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/marinate. Accessed 12 Jul. 2025.
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