marinate
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Other Word Forms
- marination noun
Etymology
Origin of marinate
1635–45; probably < Italian marinato, past participle of marinare to pickle. See marine, -ate 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Sometimes a song needs to marinate for a year, six months, it can take some time," she says.
From BBC • Sep. 27, 2025
Gabriela Jaquez made sure to marinate in this moment, bouncing gleefully toward half-court while her teammates formed a joyous mob.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2025
I will typically use it to marinate flank steak, but recently I used it with my grilled chicken and stone fruit chutney, and it reminded me how this sauce really does go with everything.
From Seattle Times • May 21, 2024
A quick marinade in soy sauce infuses the fish with earthy dimension, but be sure to not marinate for more than 20 minutes or its saltiness will become overpowering.
From Washington Times • Dec. 21, 2023
I was so good at denying myself this, the simple pleasure of even a secret crush, that the thoughts were never allowed to marinate in my mind.
From "A Very Large Expanse of Sea" by Tahereh Mafi
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
