pretreat
verb
pre·treat
ˌprē-ˈtrēt 
variants
or pre-treat
pretreated or pre-treated; pretreating or pre-treating
: to treat previously : to subject to pretreatment
pretreat the stain before washing
pretreated the roads with sand/salt before the snowstorm
pretreating wastewater
… he now pretreats patients with medicines to counter possible reactions.—
Elisabeth Rosenthal
Elisabeth RosenthalExamples of pretreat in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Prepare the Garment for Washing Use a dab of wool wash to pretreat stains.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 7 Dec. 2024
For stubborn stains, pretreat them with the appropriate solution before tackling the more wipeable messes.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2024
To use dish soap to pretreat a lipstick stain, apply it directly onto the stain, making sure to cover it completely.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2024
It can be used to pretreat washable fabrics before laundering, or in concert with an upholstery brush or carpet cleaning machine on non-washable items like furniture or mattresses.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Sep. 2024
Pretreat Stains Before washing, pretreat any stains using a stain formula specifically suited for your robe’s fabric.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 6 Aug. 2024
After applying the bluing to pretreat the stain, launder the item as usual.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 July 2024
After removing all the gum using one of our strategies below, pretreat the area with stain remover spray or a hefty dab of dish or laundry soap before laundering.
—Ann Wilson, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2023
If your comforter becomes soiled, pretreat the stain right away.
—Maria V. Charbonneaux, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 June 2023
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Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 7 Dec. 2024
For stubborn stains, pretreat them with the appropriate solution before tackling the more wipeable messes.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 25 Oct. 2024
To use dish soap to pretreat a lipstick stain, apply it directly onto the stain, making sure to cover it completely.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Oct. 2024
It can be used to pretreat washable fabrics before laundering, or in concert with an upholstery brush or carpet cleaning machine on non-washable items like furniture or mattresses.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Sep. 2024
Pretreat Stains Before washing, pretreat any stains using a stain formula specifically suited for your robe’s fabric.
—Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 6 Aug. 2024
After applying the bluing to pretreat the stain, launder the item as usual.
—Jolie Kerr, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 July 2024
After removing all the gum using one of our strategies below, pretreat the area with stain remover spray or a hefty dab of dish or laundry soap before laundering.
—Ann Wilson, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2023
If your comforter becomes soiled, pretreat the stain right away.
—Maria V. Charbonneaux, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 June 2023
Dictionary Entries Near pretreat
Cite this Entry
“Pretreat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pretreat. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
pretreat
transitive verb
pre·treat
-ˈtrēt
: to subject to pretreatment
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