# evaporate

/ɪˈvæpɝˌeɪt/ (US) · /ɪvˈæpəɹˌeɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/evaporate
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. liquid to gas

verb · CEFR B2

to change from a liquid into a gas or steam, usually because of heat.

For teachers: to undergo a phase transition from a liquid state to a gaseous state, typically due to an increase in temperature or a decrease in pressure.

- The small puddles on the pavement began to evaporate as soon as the sun came out.
- In the arid climate of the high desert, moisture tends to evaporate almost instantly, leaving the soil parched and cracked.

### 2. to disappear

verb · CEFR B2

to vanish or go away completely, especially in a way that you cannot stop.

For teachers: to disappear or vanish, especially in a sudden or complete manner; to cease to exist or have an effect.

- His confidence started to evaporate when he saw how difficult the exam questions were.
- The initial enthusiasm for the new policy began to evaporate as the practical difficulties of implementation became apparent to the staff.

### 3. to remove moisture

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to remove the water from something, usually to leave a solid or a thicker liquid behind.

For teachers: to expel moisture from a substance, typically by applying heat, in order to leave the solid or concentrated portion.

- The chef decided to evaporate the sauce until it was thick enough to coat a spoon.
- Industrial processes often evaporate the solvent from a solution to recover the solute in its pure, crystalline form.

Usage: Often used in the context of food processing or chemical engineering.

## Examples

- The water in the pan will evaporate if you boil it.
- After the heavy rain stopped, the puddles on the pavement began to evaporate in the afternoon sun.
- The initial excitement surrounding the merger began to evaporate as shareholders realised the projected profits were based on overly optimistic market data.

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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.