drain off

verb

drained off; draining off; drains off
1
: to cause (a liquid) to flow away from something or to leave the surface of something
When the beans have cooked long enough to be tender, drain off the water and set them aside.
2
: to take (something important or valuable) from something
An independent candidate could drain off votes from either party.

Examples of drain off in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Flip the chicken and drain off some of the grease. Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2026 Transfer them to a wire rack to cool and let the excess oil drain off. Cody Godwin, USA Today, 24 Feb. 2026 Be sure to drain off any excess fat to keep them from getting too greasy. Maggie Meyer Glisan, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 June 2026 The pasta water has cooked down with the other ingredients to become the sauce, and there is no liquid to drain off—and no strainer to wash after. Victoria Spencer, Martha Stewart, 3 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for drain off

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Cite this Entry

“Drain off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/drain%20off. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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