marinate

verb

mar·​i·​nate ˈmer-ə-ˌnāt How to pronounce marinate (audio)
ˈma-rə-
marinated; marinating

transitive verb

: to steep (food such as meat, fish, or vegetables) in a marinade
… fillet of beef, marinated in rice wine with tamarind, cardamom and vegetable pilaf.Matthew Fort
The immense variety of salads, marinated vegetables and beans, frittatas and little tarts that appear on Italian antipasto tables and Spanish tapas bars also provide ideas for this approach.Susan Jane Cheney
often : to coat or cover (food) with herbs, spices, etc. and let rest before cooking or serving
… a new-fangled brochette of shrimp marinated in spices and skewered with sweet, creamy chunks of date. William Grimes
… herb-marinated cashew cheese served with garnishes like olives, honey and dates. Florence Fabricant
… had the genius idea to fill a tender crust with thinly sliced lemons marinated in sugar. Monica Micahel Willis

intransitive verb

: to become marinated
Have rabbit cleaned and cut into small serving pieces. Place in bowl. Pour burgundy over it. Allow to marinate for 6 hours.Maria Lo Pinto
Ceviche, a Peruvian appetizer also popular in the Caribbean and Central America, is prepared by combining bite-size pieces of raw fish with lime or lemon juice and allowing the mixture to marinate overnight in the refrigerator.Bon Appetit
marination noun

Examples of marinate in a Sentence

The recipe says that you should marinate the chicken overnight. The chicken should be allowed to marinate overnight.
Recent Examples on the Web Combine the tomatoes with vinaigrette in a small dish to marinate at room temperature while preparing the rest of the dish, about 40 minutes. Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024 The filmmakers didn’t have long to marinate on the notes. Rebecca Keegan, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Feb. 2024 This recipe will show you how to marinate prime rib to achieve a deep brown exterior color and juicy interior. Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Feb. 2024 The marinade may not cover the pork, just turn over pork after a few hours to marinate both sides. The View, ABC News, 5 Jan. 2024 While ceviche is seen as a local dish in many countries from Chile to Mexico, Peruvians call this famous concoction of raw fish marinated in lime juice Peru’s national dish. Johanna Read, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 Heritage Two-Piece Square Baking Dish Set This dish set can tackle just about everything, including marinating meat, broiling fish, roasting vegetables, and baking cinnamon rolls. Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Feb. 2024 The ingredients need to marinate and meld by chilling for two hours for the best flavor. Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2024 Enjoy a cooking demonstration of fresh ceviche, a signature Peruvian dish of raw fish marinated in citrus juice. The Bon Appétit Staff & Contributors, Bon Appétit, 7 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'marinate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

probably from Italian marinato, past participle of marinare to marinate, from marino

First Known Use

1645, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of marinate was in 1645

Dictionary Entries Near marinate

Cite this Entry

“Marinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/marinate. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

marinate

verb
mar·​i·​nate ˈmar-ə-ˌnāt How to pronounce marinate (audio)
marinated; marinating
: to soak in a marinade

More from Merriam-Webster on marinate

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