marinate
verb
mar·i·nate
ˈmer-ə-ˌnāt 
ˈma-rə-
marinated; marinating
: to steep (food such as meat, fish, or vegetables) in a marinade
… fillet of beef, marinated in rice wine with tamarind, cardamom and vegetable pilaf.—
Matthew Fort
Matthew FortThe immense variety of salads, marinated vegetables and beans, frittatas and little tarts that appear on Italian antipasto tables and Spanish tapas bars also provide ideas for this approach.—Susan Jane Cheney
Susan Jane Cheney
often
: to coat or cover (food) with herbs, spices, etc. and let rest before cooking or serving
… a new-fangled brochette of shrimp marinated in spices and skewered with sweet, creamy chunks of date. —William Grimes
William Grimes … herb-marinated cashew cheese served with garnishes like olives, honey and dates. —Florence Fabricant
Florence Fabricant … had the genius idea to fill a tender crust with thinly sliced lemons marinated in sugar. —Monica Micahel Willis
Monica Micahel Willis
: to become marinated
Have rabbit cleaned and cut into small serving pieces. Place in bowl. Pour burgundy over it. Allow to marinate for 6 hours.—Maria Lo Pinto
Maria Lo PintoCeviche, a Peruvian appetizer also popular in the Caribbean and Central America, is prepared by combining bite-size pieces of raw fish with lime or lemon juice and allowing the mixture to marinate overnight in the refrigerator.—Bon Appetit
Bon AppetitExamples of marinate in a Sentence
The recipe says that you should marinate the chicken overnight.
The chicken should be allowed to marinate overnight.
Recent Examples on the Web
Chicken might be marinated with guava, for example.
—Miami Herald Staff, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2025
The company’s protein-processing solutions, such as slicers, grinders, and marinating systems, provide high-efficiency alternatives for meat and poultry processing.
—Joe Cornell, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
Colbert trying to do anything handy while wearing a tailored suit was already gold, but the psychosexual implications of marinating prime rib really sent this clip over the edge.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2025
Jamaican jerk cuisine is a method of dry-rubbing or marinating meat in a jerk spice blend or paste packed with fresh chiles, herbs and spices.
—Lynda Balslev, The Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for marinate
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Miami Herald Staff, Miami Herald, 17 Mar. 2025
The company’s protein-processing solutions, such as slicers, grinders, and marinating systems, provide high-efficiency alternatives for meat and poultry processing.
—Joe Cornell, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
Colbert trying to do anything handy while wearing a tailored suit was already gold, but the psychosexual implications of marinating prime rib really sent this clip over the edge.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 7 Feb. 2025
Jamaican jerk cuisine is a method of dry-rubbing or marinating meat in a jerk spice blend or paste packed with fresh chiles, herbs and spices.
—Lynda Balslev, The Mercury News, 28 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for marinate
Cite this Entry
“Marinate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/marinate. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.
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