# condense

/kənˈdɛns/ (US) · /kəndˈɛns/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/condense
Updated: 2026-05-30

## Definition

to change from a gas into a liquid, or to make something smaller and more solid. You use this when water vapor turns into droplets or when you shorten a long story.

For teachers: to change from a gaseous to a liquid or solid state; to reduce in volume or density. Transitive when referring to physical matter, often intransitive when describing the process of a substance.

## Examples

- The steam will condense on the cold window.
- The teacher asked the students to condense their five-page essays into a single paragraph.
- As the warm air rises and cools, the moisture within it begins to condense, eventually forming the dense clouds that signal an approaching storm.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.