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dehydrate

verb
de·​hy·​drate | \ (ˌ)dē-ˈhī-ˌdrāt How to pronounce dehydrate (audio) \
dehydrated; dehydrating; dehydrates

Definition of dehydrate

transitive verb

1a : to remove bound water or hydrogen and oxygen from (a chemical compound) in the proportion in which they form water
b : to remove water from (something, such as a food)
2 : to deprive of vitality or savor

intransitive verb

: to lose water or body fluids
Other Words from dehydrate Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about dehydrate

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Other Words from dehydrate

dehydrator \ (ˌ)dē-​ˈhī-​ˌdrā-​tər How to pronounce dehydrator (audio) \ noun

Did You Know?

Dehydrating food is a good way to preserve it; raisins, which are dehydrated grapes, are a good example. Dehydration through industrial processes makes it possible to keep food even longer and store it in a smaller space. Freeze-drying produces food that only needs rehydration—that is, the addition of water—to restore its original consistency. Runners, cyclists, and hikers fearful of dehydration seem to be constantly hydrating themselves nowadays, sometimes even using a shoulder pack with a tube going straight into the mouth. Dehydrate can also be used for making something "dry" or "lifeless;" thus, a dull teacher can dehydrate American history, and an unimaginative staging can dehydrate a great Shakespeare play.

Examples of dehydrate in a Sentence

Salt dehydrates the meat and keeps it from spoiling. Athletes drink lots of water so they don't dehydrate. Exercising in this heat will dehydrate you.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 Alcohol is dehydrating, interferes with sleep, and disrupts the GI system, all of which can cause a hangover, explains Cassetty. — NBC News, "What is natural wine? And is it better for you?," 11 Aug. 2019 But aside from that, coffee isn’t inherently dehydrating. — Korin Miller, SELF, "Is Coffee Actually Dehydrating?," 6 Mar. 2019 The terrified dog was swollen, severely dehydrated, covered in sores and missing 90 per cent of her fur when she was found, the group wrote. — Kc Baker, PEOPLE.com, "Badly Injured Dog Rescued While Being Buried Alive on Hawaii Beach by Machete-Wielding Man," 15 July 2019 In 2006, a lot of people were being deported through this port of entry, and these women wondered what could be done, because a lot of people were being deported with blistered feet, dehydrated, with not enough to eat. — Colin Barrett, Harper's magazine, "“Just Keep Going North”," 5 July 2019 With this in mind, space food is carefully selected, prepared, contained, dispensed, dehydrated, rehydrated, heated and cooled with ever evolving technology. — Chelsea Gohd, Scientific American, "The Space Station May Soon Smell like Fresh-Baked Cookies," 2 July 2019 Besides dehydrating you at a faster rate, alcohol can alter your brain functions significantly, especially in the heat. — Ramona Sentinel, "Crime Prevention Corner: 5 Do’s and 5 Don’ts for a safe Ramona summer," 24 July 2019 The owl was dehydrated, exhausted and had a slight case of hypothermia. — Joan Morris, The Mercury News, "Foster City agencies, citizens team up to rescue barn owl," 23 July 2019 Lares, 51, was dehydrated and fell ill with a fever that would keep him out of work for four unpaid days. — Kaiser Health News, oregonlive.com, "Rules lag in keeping workers safe from heat-related illness, death," 21 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'dehydrate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of dehydrate

1876, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

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More Definitions for dehydrate

dehydrate

verb
How to pronounce dehydrate (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of dehydrate

somewhat technical
: to remove water or moisture from (something, such as food)
: to lose too much water

See the full definition for dehydrate in the English Language Learners Dictionary

dehydrate

verb
de·​hy·​drate | \ dē-ˈhī-ˌdrāt How to pronounce dehydrate (audio) \
dehydrated; dehydrating

Kids Definition of dehydrate

1 : to take water from (as foods) dehydrate fruit
2 : to lose water or body fluids Athletes should avoid dehydrating.

Other Words from dehydrate

dehydration \ ˌdē-​ˌhī-​ˈdrā-​shən \ noun

dehydrate

verb
de·​hy·​drate | \ (ˈ)dē-ˈhī-ˌdrāt How to pronounce dehydrate (audio) \
dehydrated; dehydrating

Medical Definition of dehydrate

transitive verb

1 : to remove bound water or hydrogen and oxygen from (a chemical compound) in the proportion in which they form water
2 : to remove water from (as foods)

intransitive verb

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