hydration

American  

[hahy-dray-shuhn] / haɪˈdreɪ ʃən /

noun

1. the act or process of supplying water to oneself, another person, or a part of the body.

2. the act or process of chemically hydrating something.

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Explanation

Hydration is what happens when something absorbs water. If your favorite plant is brown and droopy, it may need hydration — or it may be time to buy a new plant! Hydration comes from the verb hydrate, which was originally defined as "form a hydrate" (a chemical compound that includes water), but eventually came to also mean "to restore moisture." Whenever you moisten or add water to something, including drinking a nice big cold glass of water when you're thirsty, that's hydration.

Example Sentences

"The enhanced transport behavior we observe, driven by hydration lubrication, is universal, and the same principle can be extended beyond blue-energy devices," he says.

From Science Daily • Mar. 9, 2026

When I book a facial while traveling, I’m not looking for heavy extractions or intensive treatments — just hydration and relaxation.

From Salon • Mar. 7, 2026

For intravenous hydration bags promising to boost immunity, fight nausea or promote health and beauty, Planned Parenthood Mar Monte visitors pay $100 to $150.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 2026

Taking daily collagen supplements can rejuvenate the skin by boosting elasticity and hydration or moisture - but it won't stop wrinkles, says a new scientific review.

From BBC • Feb. 26, 2026

Right now my expenses are minimal, and my new hydration business has taken off, launched through the roof, and shot into the stratosphere.

From "Dry" by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman