Cementite dissolution kinetics in austenite was investigated in a hypereutectoid steel alloy during continuous heating. The quantitative change in cementite volume fraction as a function of thermal history was determined from dilation curves by using the martensite start temperature to calculate prior austenite carbon content. Two characteristics of the cementite dissolution kinetics were found: (1) the cementite dissolution rate increased with time regardless of heating rate due to the increased surface area of cementite particles, and (2) the rate of cementite dissolution was strongly affected by heating rate. An empirical equation combining the effects of cementite volume change and heating rate is proposed to describe cementite dissolution kinetics. A continuous heating transformation diagram for hypereutectoid steels was obtained and compared with the DICTRA simulations and metallographic analyses.