Hydrate can mean a chemical compounda substance formed from two or more different elements or parts that contains water, to take up water, or to add water or moisturesmall amounts of water present in air, food, or on surfaces to something. In everydaycommon and ordinary; used in normal daily life English, it is most often used for making sure a person, animal, or thing has enough water.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈhaɪdreɪt/
Easy pronunciation: HY-drayt (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable.
Verb: to supply water or liquid to maintain a healthy balance.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Hydrate Meaning
to give someone or something enough water
Part of speech: verb
Definition: supply water or liquid to in order to maintain a healthy balance
Example: Athletes need to hydrate regularly during long workouts.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- water — Works in some contexts, but usually for plants or livestock rather than people.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Hydrate
Meaning 2
to add water or moisture to something
Part of speech: verb
Definition: cause to be hydrated; add water or moisture to
Example: The lotion helps hydrate dry skin.
Meaning 3
to take in water or combine with it
Part of speech: verb
Definition: become hydrated and combine with water
Example: Some salts hydrate when exposed to moisture.
Meaning 4
a chemical compound that contains water in its structure
Part of speech: noun
Definition: any compound that contains water of crystallization
Example: The lab analyzed the mineral as a hydrate.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Hydrate Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- water
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Do not confuse hydrate with dehydrate, which means to remove water.
- In everyday use, hydrate usually refers to drinking enough water or helping something keep moisture.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does hydrate mean?
Hydrate can mean to give something water, to add moisture to something, to take in water, or a compound that contains water in its structure. The most common everyday meaning is to drink enough water or keep something properly watered.
What is a simple synonym for hydrate?
A simple synonym in some contexts is water, but it is not a perfect substitute in every sense.
Is hydrate the same as dehydrate?
No. Hydrate means to add or keep water, while dehydrate means to remove water.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-12. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.