# preheat

/pɹɪhˈiːt/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/preheat
Updated: 2026-05-19

## Definition

to heat something to a specific temperature before you start using it. You usually do this for an oven or a pan before cooking.

For teachers: to heat an appliance or container to a desired temperature before the actual cooking or processing begins. Often used in the context of kitchen appliances or industrial equipment.

## Examples

- You should preheat the oven for twenty minutes.
- Before you start baking the cookies, make sure you preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
- The laboratory protocol requires that the glassware be preheated to the same temperature as the liquid to prevent thermal shock and subsequent cracking.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.