marinate

verb

mar·​i·​nate ˈmer-ə-ˌnāt 

ˈma-rə-

marinated; marinating

transitive verb

: 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

The 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

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

… herb-marinated cashew cheese served with garnishes like olives, honey and dates.

—Florence Fabricant

… had the genius idea to fill a tender crust with thinly sliced lemons marinated in sugar.

—Monica Micahel Willis

intransitive verb

: 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

Ceviche, 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

marination

ˌmer-ə-ˈnā-shən 

ˌma-rə-

noun

Examples 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

Serve, without draining marinating liquid, and garnish with fresh dill or parsley. —Ivy Odom, Southern Living, 1 Nov. 2024

Recipe tested by Sarah Brekke, MS Prep Time: 15 mins Roast Time: 3 hrs Stand Time: 15 mins Chill Time: 1 day Total Time: 1 day 3 hrs 30 mins Servings: 18 Jump to Nutrition Facts Brining—marinating the turkey in a mix of salt, sugar, and spices—adds flavor, tenderness, and moisture to the meat. —Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Oct. 2024

Place marinated chicken and vegetables in a single layer onto the prepared baking sheet. —Bethany Thayer, Detroit Free Press, 5 Oct. 2024

Rohan duck undergoes an intensive one-week aging and marinating process for one of the bigger dishes. —Elazar Sontag, Bon Appétit, 9 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

probably from Italian marinato, past participle of marinare to marinate, from marino

First Known Use

1645, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

marinate

verb

mar·​i·​nate ˈmar-ə-ˌnāt 

marinated; marinating

: to soak in a marinade