ENGLISH
REFERENCE

saturated

adj.
US //ˈsætʃɝˌeɪtɪd// UK //sˈætʃəɹˌeɪtɪd// sat·u·rat·ed
  1. 1 soaked with liquid (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    completely wet or soaked through with a liquid.

    thoroughly soaked or drenched with moisture; unable to absorb further liquid.

    Example

    The heavy rain left the ground so saturated that large puddles formed on the lawn.

    Example

    After the pipes burst, the carpets became so saturated that they had to be completely removed to prevent mould growth.
  2. 2 completely full (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    filled to the point where no more can be added.

    filled to capacity; used figuratively to describe a state where no further input can be accommodated.

    Example

    The market is saturated with coffee shops, so it is hard for a new one to succeed.

    Example

    By the end of the decade, the domestic smartphone market was saturated, forcing manufacturers to look for growth in emerging economies.
Show 3 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 chemical concentration (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Science

    containing the maximum amount of a substance that can be dissolved.

    containing the maximum amount of solute that can be dissolved in a solvent at a given temperature and pressure.

    Example

    If you keep adding sugar to the cold tea, the liquid will eventually become saturated.

    Example

    The chemist prepared a saturated salt solution to test the rate of crystal growth under controlled laboratory conditions.
  2. 4 organic chemistry (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Science

    a type of fat or chemical that has only single bonds between its atoms.

    referring to organic compounds, particularly fats, containing only single bonds between carbon atoms and thus holding the maximum number of hydrogen atoms.

    Example

    Doctors often recommend eating fewer saturated fats to keep your heart healthy.

    Example

    Saturated fatty acids are typically solid at room temperature, unlike their unsaturated counterparts found in vegetable oils.
  3. 5 colour intensity (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Technical

    having a very bright, deep, or strong colour.

    possessing a high degree of chroma or purity; free from dilution by white or grey.

    Example

    The artist used saturated reds and yellows to make the sunset look more dramatic.

    Example

    The director chose a highly saturated colour palette for the film to evoke a surreal, dreamlike atmosphere.
Word family

© 2026 English Reference