verb

dehydrate

dee-HY-drayt

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Dehydrate (verb) means to remove water from something, especially to dry it out for preservation. Example: “The recipe tells you to dehydrate the apple slices in a low oven overnight.”

verb

To remove water from something, especially to dry it out for preservation.

"The recipe tells you to dehydrate the apple slices in a low oven overnight."

"Manufacturers dehydrate the fruit before packing it as a snack."

"They dehydrate vegetables to make them last longer without refrigeration."

To lose so much water from the body that normal function is affected.

"Runners can dehydrate quickly in hot weather if they do not drink enough."

"She began to dehydrate after being ill for several days."

"Children dehydrate faster than adults during a bout of vomiting."

How to use dehydrate

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDehydrate means to take the water out of something, or, for a person, to run low on water in the body.

When to use it

The word is used in both everyday and medical or food-preparation contexts without sounding overly formal.

Memory tip

Remember the prefix de- means taking away, so dehydrate literally means taking the hydration away.

Trace the full origin ↓

Common pairings

dehydrate fruit start to dehydrate risk of dehydrating

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “dehydrate” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The recipe tells you to _____ the apple slices in a low oven overnight.

Etymology

The word combines the prefix de-, meaning removal or reversal, with hydrate, so together it describes taking water away from something.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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desiccate exsiccate

Antonyms

hydrate

Related words

drink arid hydrate hydration desiccated

Rhymes for dehydrate

ate date rate mate abate slate plate state create update locate relate

See all rhymes for dehydrate →

Frequently asked questions

What does dehydrate mean?

It means to remove water from something, or, for a person, to lose too much water from the body.

Is dehydrate the same as dry out?

It covers a similar idea, and is used both for drying food and for a person losing body water.

Can dehydrate be used for both food and people?

Yes, it is transitive when applied to food, such as dehydrating fruit, and intransitive when describing a person becoming dehydrated.

What is the meaning of dehydrate?

"dehydrate" (verb) means to remove water from something, especially to dry it out for preservation.

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drink arid hydrate hydration desiccated