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

Common ingredients include hyaluronic acid to help with hydration, peptides for skin plumping, retinals for fine lines and vitamin C for brightening the under-eye area.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

"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

Inside, there are two sets of her lightest nylon track clothes, her Camel hydration pack, her handheld water bottle, and her thin rain jacket.

From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti