adj
Uncommon
saturated
Saturated (adj) means Completely soaked with liquid; unable to absorb any more. Example: “The ground was saturated after days of rain.”
adj
1
Completely soaked with liquid; unable to absorb any more.
"The ground was saturated after days of rain."
"Her clothes were saturated with sweat by the end of the run."
"The sponge was saturated, so water dripped from it when she lifted it."
2
Describing a market or field that is so full of competitors or products that there is little room for growth.
"The smartphone market is already saturated."
"The market for budget coffee shops is saturated, so new owners struggle to find customers."
"Many cities now have saturated markets for food delivery apps."
3
In chemistry, a solution that has dissolved as much of a substance as it can, or a compound containing only single bonds between atoms.
"Butter is high in saturated fat."
"Stir sugar into the water until the solution is saturated and no more will dissolve."
"Olive oil contains less saturated fat than many animal products."
How to use saturated
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishCompletely full or soaked — whether it's a sponge full of water, a market full of competitors, or a chemical solution that can't dissolve any more.
Common pairings
saturated market
saturated fat
saturated with water
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like saturated.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Comparative
- more saturated
- Superlative
- most saturated
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The ground was _____ after days of rain.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
unsaturated
Related words
Rhymes for saturated
See all rhymes for saturated →Frequently asked questions
What does “saturated” mean?
The word “saturated” means completely soaked with liquid; unable to absorb any more. In plain terms, completely full or soaked — whether it's a sponge full of water, a market full of competitors, or a chemical solution that can't dissolve any more.
How do you use “saturated” in a sentence?
Here is “saturated” used in a sentence: “The ground was saturated after days of rain.”
What part of speech is “saturated”?
“Saturated” is an adjective.
Is “saturated” a common word?
“Saturated” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “saturated” have?
“Saturated” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: completely soaked with liquid; unable to absorb any more.
What is the difference between saturated and unsaturated in chemistry?
A saturated solution has dissolved as much of a substance as it possibly can, and a saturated compound contains only single bonds between atoms. An unsaturated compound, by contrast, contains double or triple bonds, and an unsaturated solution can still dissolve more of a substance.
What does it mean when a market is described as saturated?
A saturated market is one so full of competitors or products that there is little room left for growth. Businesses entering a saturated market typically face intense competition and limited opportunity to gain new customers.
What does saturated mean when describing a fabric or material?
When describing a material, "saturated" means it is completely soaked with liquid and unable to absorb any more. A saturated towel, for instance, has reached the point where it can no longer soak up additional water.
