Definition

To heat something, like an oven, before using it for cooking.

Example

Please preheat the oven to 350 degrees before baking the cake.

Tense Forms

Conversation

Are you going to preheat the oven before we start cooking?

Definitely! It makes everything cook more evenly.

Good idea! What temperature should we set it to?

Let's go for 375 degrees; that should work perfectly.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Preheat → It is formed from "pre-" (meaning before) and "heat" (from Old English "hætu", meaning warmth or heat). The word "preheat" means to heat something before it is used or cooked.

Memory Tip

Think of heating something 'before' ('pre-') it is used — that's why preheat means to warm it up in advance.

Visually Confused Words