1. to heat (an oven or other appliance) to a desired temperature before using it

Examples

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Make sure to preheat your grill before cooking the burgers.
• The recipe says to preheat the pan for two minutes.
• Don’t forget to preheat the toaster oven before baking.
• She preheated the skillet while preparing the ingredients.
• The instructions recommend preheating for at least ten minutes.