Synonyms

distill

American

[dih-stil] / dɪˈstɪl /

especially British, distil

verb (used with object)

to subject to a process of vaporization and subsequent condensation, as for purification or concentration.
to extract the volatile components of by distillation; transform by distillation.
to concentrate, purify, or obtain by or as by distillation.

to distill whiskey from mash.
to remove by distillation (usually followed by off orout ).

to distill out impurities.
to extract the essential elements of; refine; abstract.

She managed to distill her ideas into one succinct article.
to let fall in drops; give forth in or as in drops.

The cool of the night distills the dew.

verb (used without object)

to undergo or perform distillation.
to become vaporized and then condensed in distillation.
to drop, pass, or condense as a distillate.
to fall in drops; trickle; exude.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of distill

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English distillen (from Anglo-French distiller ), from Latin distillāre, variant of dēstillāre, equivalent to dē- de- + stillāre to drip

Explanation

When you distill something, you are boiling it down to its essence — its most important part. Whether it's alcohol or ideas, the distilled part is the most powerful. The original meaning of distill comes from the process of making alcohol, known as distilling, in which all the impurities of a substance are vaporized and its pure, high-alcohol condensation collected. Distill eventually came to mean any process in which the essence of something is revealed. If you take notes at a lecture and then turn them into an essay for your professor, you're distilling your notes into something more pure and exact. At least, that's what you hope you're doing.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing distill

The Cay

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

100 SAT Words Beginning with "D"

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

Life As We Knew It

Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Ms Distill says she wants greater effort on repurposing empty buildings for housing and putting a limit on multiple home ownership.

From BBC • Jun. 18, 2024

Even those friends who have their own homes, says Ms Distill, are often worried about where their next mortgage or rent payment is "coming from".

From BBC • Jun. 18, 2024

As an incubator, Distill Ventures provides coaching and mentorship to brand founders to help them grow their company.

From New York Times • Apr. 27, 2023

"By Distill Ventures provoking our thinking about the space it allows us to stretch into an area that wouldn't have been naturally in our gift."

From Reuters • May 24, 2017

Distill into this Liquor all your fires: Heats, longings, tears, But keep back frozen fears; That she may know, that has all power defied, Art is a power that will not be denied.

From Beaumont & Fletcher's Works (2 of 10) - the Humourous Lieutenant by Beaumont, Francis

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023