decant

verb

de·​cant di-ˈkant How to pronounce decant (audio)
dē-
decanted; decanting; decants

transitive verb

1
: to draw off (a liquid) without disturbing the sediment or the lower liquid layers
2
: to pour (a liquid, such as wine) from one vessel into another
decanted the wine before the meal
3
: to pour out, transfer, or unload as if by pouring
I was decanted from the car …Ursula G. Bower
decantation noun

Examples of decant in a Sentence

The bottles were uncorked and the wine was decanted an hour before the meal.
Recent Examples on the Web When decanting products, add a label directly to the container to retain their expiration dates. Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Oct. 2024 Oxo Good Grips Medium Square Pop Container One of the best ways to keep sugar or flour fresh is to decant them. Brittany Vanderbill, Peoplemag, 24 Sep. 2024 In the case of decanting food, airtight containers preserve ingredients. Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Sep. 2024 In fact, Card says decanting wine doesn’t have to be too complex of a process. Kelsey Mulvey, Sunset Magazine, 13 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for decant 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'decant.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin decantare, from Latin de- + Medieval Latin cantus edge, from Latin, iron ring round a wheel — more at cant entry 4

First Known Use

1633, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of decant was in 1633

Dictionary Entries Near decant

Cite this Entry

“Decant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/decant. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

decant

verb
de·​cant di-ˈkant How to pronounce decant (audio)
: to pour from one container into another
decantation noun

Medical Definition

decant

transitive verb
de·​cant di-ˈkant How to pronounce decant (audio)
: to draw off (a liquid) without disturbing the sediment or the lower liquid layers
decantation noun

More from Merriam-Webster on decant

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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