marinate
Americanverb (used with object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of marinate
1635–45; probably < Italian marinato, past participle of marinare to pickle. See marine, -ate 1
Explanation
When you marinate food, you let it sit in a flavorful liquid before cooking it. You might marinate fish in soy sauce before putting it on the grill. The liquid used to marinate meat, fish, or vegetables is called a "marinade," and it usually includes some acidic ingredient like lemon juice or vinegar that helps the flavors penetrate the food. When you marinate chicken or tofu or beef, it becomes more moist and delicious after you cook it. The French root, mariner, means "to pickle in sea brine."
Vocabulary lists containing marinate
A Culinary Vocabulary Sampler
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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.
No, I will take full accountability and marinate in my stupidity.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026
"Sometimes a song needs to marinate for a year, six months, it can take some time," she says.
From BBC • Sep. 27, 2025
I let the thought marinate for a few days, or I’ll write it down in my notes.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 8, 2025
“Let’s marinate these for a couple of days. I think it’s important,” said the chair of the commission, Luis Fitch.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 15, 2023
Koffi let the word marinate in her head.
From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray
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.
