What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
decant
Example
She carefully decanted the oil into a clean bottle. [decanted: past tense]
Example
The wine needs to be decanted before serving to allow it to breathe. [decanted: verb]
siphon
Example
He used a siphon to transfer the gasoline from the can to the car. [siphon: noun]
Example
She siphoned off the dirty water from the fish tank. [siphoned: past tense]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Decant is more commonly used in everyday language than siphon. Decant is often used in the context of wine or other beverages, while siphon is more commonly used in scientific or industrial settings.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between decant and siphon?
Decant is generally considered more formal than siphon, which is often associated with scientific or industrial jargon.
