preheat

1 of 2

verb

pre·​heat (ˌ)prē-ˈhēt How to pronounce preheat (audio)
preheated; preheating; preheats

transitive verb

: to heat (something) beforehand
especially : to heat (an oven) to a designated temperature before using for cooking
preheater noun

preheater

2 of 2

noun

pre·​heater
"+
: any of various devices for preliminary heating: such as
a
: a heat exchanger used in brewing and distilling
b
: any of various devices for using waste heat for preliminary heating in petroleum refining processes

Examples of preheat in a Sentence

Verb Preheat the oven to 375 degrees before you put the roast in.
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Verb
The riskiest habit is preheating an empty nonstick pan on high heat. — Ryan Brennan june 2, Sacbee.com, 3 June 2026 The Ninja air fryer preheats in just three minutes. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 8 June 2026 The biggest mistake is preheating an empty nonstick pan. — Ryan Brennan june 2, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 June 2026 While the oven preheats, hold the loaf under running water to dampen the exterior. — Anne Wolf, Martha Stewart, 3 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for preheat

Word History

Etymology

Noun

preheat + -er

First Known Use

Verb

1898, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of preheat was in 1898

Rhymes for preheat

See All Rhymes for preheat

Browse Nearby Words

preheadache
preheat
preheater
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Preheat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preheat. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

preheat

verb
pre·​heat (ˈ)prē-ˈhēt How to pronounce preheat (audio)
: to heat beforehand
preheat the oven to 400 degrees

More from Merriam-Webster on preheat

Nglish: Translation of preheat for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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