marinating

verb

present participle of marinate
as in drowning
to put (food, such as meat or fish) in a sauce for a period of time to add flavor or tenderize The recipe says that you should marinate the chicken overnight.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of marinating For enhanced flavor, try marinating the chicken ahead of time. — Andrea Beck, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Aug. 2026 Save time on cooking prep by picking up this cut of Angus beef that’s marinating in a sesame-teriyaki sauce, which includes soy sauce, honey, and sesame seeds. — Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 6 Aug. 2026 Avoid heating up the kitchen by having a barbecue outside instead and marinating your kebabs in a spicy marinade. — Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 13 July 2026 While marinating forces flavor into food, maceration is the opposite. — Josh Miller, Southern Living, 12 July 2026 The original recipe sets a whole bird on an open can, but marinating chicken in beer works much better. — Inés Anguiano, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 July 2026 In Neighborhood, an understated restaurant tucked away in a Hong Kong alley, chef David Lai is patiently scoring, marinating and curing a fresh pomfret he’s just picked up at the market. — Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 16 June 2026 Maybe not marinating, but meditating. — Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2026 Growing up in Southern California meant marinating in a beautifully chaotic media stew where local sports writers and radio personalities were some of our defining cultural commentators. — Erik Pedersen, Oc Register, 8 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for marinating
  1. drowning
  2. dipping
  3. soaking
  4. macerating
Verb
  • Contributing factors included drowning, coronary artery disease and the effects of buprenorphine.
    — Kalia Richardson, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Perry died in 2023 after injecting himself with ketamine and drowning in his hot tub.
    — Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of drowning
Verb
  • All four celebs started dipping their toes into fall fashion early this year, reaching for fisherman, funnel-neck, and crewneck sweaters while traveling, sipping coffee, and cooking with Ina Garten.
    — Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
  • Customers can also choose from three other dipping sauces – honey mustard, buffalo and sweet & sour – all of which were improved, too, the company said.
    — Mike Snider, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of dipping
Verb
  • Excess moisture is the biggest concern, so avoid soaking the surface and dry it thoroughly after cleaning.
    — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Upstairs, the primary suite flaunts a projector, large walk-in closets, and a skylit bath spotlighted by a huge oval soaking tub.
    — Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of soaking
Verb
  • This technique is called macerating, allowing the fruit to soften and the natural juices to come out.
    — Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 June 2026
  • This recipe solves that problem by macerating the diced rhubarb and strawberries with sugar before folding them into the muffin batter.
    — The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 May 2026
Definition of macerating

Browse Nearby Words

marinates
marinating
marine
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Cite this Entry

“Marinating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/marinating. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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