What does dehydrate mean?
Dehydrate means to remove water or moisture from something. In food preparation, it usually refers to drying a substance thoroughly enough to preserve it, as with fruits, vegetables, herbs, or meat. The verb can also describe the loss of water needed for normal bodily function, as when heat, illness, or inadequate fluid intake dehydrates a person or animal. A related use describes an object or place becoming progressively drier. Dehydrate is especially useful because it describes water removal directly rather than relying on the broader word “dry.” In culinary contexts it may suggest preservation, concentration of flavor, or lightweight storage; in medical contexts it can imply a potentially serious physiological condition. The word is standard in both British and American English and is regularly used in technical as well as general contexts.
verbTo remove water or moisture from a substance or organism. It can also mean to become, or cause something to become, deprived of water.
- To remove water or moisture from a substance, especially food or biological material, usually for storage or preservation.
- To cause an organism to lose water or become deprived of the water it needs to function normally.
- To become depleted of water or moisture.
"She dehydrated the tomatoes so that they would keep through the winter."
"The machine dehydrates the herbs at a low temperature to preserve their flavor."
"Extreme heat can dehydrate the body faster than a person is able to replace the lost fluid."
To dehydrate is literally to “undo” hydration—and when it happens to the human body, the result can be far more serious than a container of dried fruit.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of dehydrate
Dehydrate was formed in English by combining the prefix de-, meaning “remove” or “undo,” with hydrate. Hydrate ultimately comes from Greek hydōr, meaning “water,” through related Latin and French forms. The construction became established in the 19th century and belongs to a wider family of English words involving hydration, water, and the separation of substances by water.
Related word forms
How dehydrate is actually used
The word is neutral in register and common in scientific, culinary, medical, and survival contexts. As an intransitive verb, it can describe either an object losing moisture or a person or animal becoming dehydrated.