VocabularyBasePractice words

Meaning & use

pre-treat

verb·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˌpriː ˈtriːt/
US/ˌpriː ˈtriːt/

Meanings

  1. verbtransitive

    to treat something in a special way before the main treatment or process

    Grammar: Takes an object: pre-treat the fabric. Often used in the passive: the wood was pre-treated.

    Patterns

    • pre-treat something with something
    • pre-treat something before something
    • pre-treat something to do something

    You should pre-treat the stain with a little detergent before washing the shirt.

    The wood is pre-treated with chemicals to protect it from insects.

    Farmers pre-treat the seeds to help them grow faster.

  2. verbtransitivemedical

    to give someone medical care before a main operation or treatment

    Grammar: Takes an object; common in medical contexts: pre-treat patients with drugs.

    Patterns

    • pre-treat a patient with something
    • pre-treat someone before surgery

    Doctors pre-treat some patients with antibiotics before surgery.

    The patient was pre-treated with a mild drug to reduce the reaction.

Word forms

third person singularpre-treats
past tensepre-treated
past participlepre-treated
-ing formpre-treating

Common combinations

pre-treat a stain
Always pre-treat a stain before you put the clothes in the washing machine.
pre-treat the wood
They pre-treat the wood so it lasts longer outdoors.
pre-treat with chemicals
The fabric is pre-treated with chemicals to make it fire-resistant.
pre-treat the surface
You must pre-treat the surface before painting it.

Synonyms and how they differ

prepare
Prepare is a general word for getting something ready; pre-treat means giving a special treatment, often chemical or medical, before the main process.
condition
Condition is used for preparing hair or skin with a product; pre-treat is broader and often suggests a protective or cleaning step.

Word family

treatment noun
the process of treating something or someone
treat verb
to deal with something in a particular way
pre-treatment noun
a treatment done before the main one

Commonly confused: pre-treat or pretend?

pre-treat vs pretend

Pretend means to act as if something is true when it is not; pre-treat means to give something a special treatment beforehand. They are unrelated in meaning.

Practice

Before you wash the shirt, ______ the collar with a little soap.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “pre-treat”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

Your sentence stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.

Explore more words