hydrate

American  

[hahy-dreyt] / ˈhaɪ dreɪt /

noun

1. any of a class of compounds containing chemically combined water. In the case of some hydrates, as washing soda, Na 2 CO 3 ⋅10H 2 O, the water is loosely held and is easily lost on heating; in others, as sulfuric acid, SO 3 ⋅H 2 O, or H 2 SO 4 , it is strongly held as water of constitution.

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verb (used with or without object)

hydrates, present (3rd person singular) hydrated, past participle, past hydrating present participle

1. to combine chemically with water.

hydrate British  

/ ˈhaɪdreɪt /

noun

1. a chemical compound containing water that is chemically combined with a substance and can usually be expelled without changing the constitution of the substance

2. a chemical compound that can dissociate reversibly into water and another compound. For example sulphuric acid (H 2 SO 4 ) dissociates into sulphur trioxide (SO 3 ) and water (H 2 O)

3. (not in technical usage) a chemical compound, such as a carbohydrate, that contains hydrogen and oxygen atoms in the ratio two to one

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verb

1. to undergo or cause to undergo treatment or impregnation with water

hydrate Scientific  

/ hī′drāt′ /

1. A compound produced by combining a substance chemically with water. Many minerals and crystalline substances are hydrates.

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1. To combine a compound with water, especially to form a hydrate.

2. To supply water to a person in order to restore or maintain a balance of fluids.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• hydrator
  noun
• hydration
  noun

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has hydrated
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have hydrated
  perfect
• is hydrating
  progressive 3rd person singular
• have been hydrating
  perfect progressive
• hydrating
  participle
• am hydrating
  progressive 1st person singular
• has been hydrating
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• are hydrating
  progressive
• hydrates
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had hydrated
  perfect
• was hydrating
  progressive singular
• had been hydrating
  perfect progressive
• were hydrating
  progressive plural
• hydrated
  simple
• hydrated
  participle

Future

• will hydrate
  simple
• will have hydrated
  perfect
• will be hydrating
  progressive
• will have been hydrating
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of hydrate

First recorded in 1795–1805; hydr- ¹ + -ate ²

Explanation

To hydrate is to add or absorb water. It's hot outside — don't forget to hydrate by drinking plenty of water! If you want to sound fancy, you can use the word hydrate every time you get a drink of water. Along with most organisms, we need to hydrate, or ingest water, to stay alive. This verb is also commonly used to mean "moisturize," as in "this magic cream will hydrate your skin like you won't believe!" As a noun, hydrate refers to a chemical compound that includes water molecules. A French chemist coined the noun in 1800 from the Greek hydor, "water."

Example Sentences

CAHILLANE: Capri Sun Hydrate is a more expensive cost of good because of the electrolytes and the innovation.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

Hydrate often so that they can be encouraged to do so too.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 26, 2023

“If you have to exert yourself, exert yourself less. Hydrate more,” said Dr. Leonardo Trasande, who studies environmental health at New York University.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 8, 2023

Prime Energy contains as much caffeine as two cups of coffee - unlike Prime Hydrate, which contains no caffeine.

From BBC • May 22, 2023

Hydrate, hī′drāt, n. a compound formed by the union of water with an oxide.—n.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 2 of 4: E-M) by Various