condense

[kuhn-dens]

verb (used with object)

condensed, condensing 

1. to make more dense or compact; reduce the volume or extent of; concentrate.

   Synonyms: consolidate, compress
   Antonyms: expand

2. to reduce to a shorter form; abridge.

   Condense your answer into a few words.

   Synonyms: abbreviate, abstract, epitomize, digest

3. to reduce to another and denser form, as a gas or vapor to a liquid or solid state.

verb (used without object)

condensed, condensing 

1. to become denser or more compact or concentrated.

2. to reduce a book, speech, statement, or the like, to a shorter form.

3. to become liquid or solid, as a gas or vapor.

   The steam condensed into droplets.

condense

/ kənˈdɛns /

verb

1. (tr) to increase the density of; compress

2. to reduce or be reduced in volume or size; make or become more compact

3. to change or cause to change from a gaseous to a liquid or solid state

4. chem to undergo or cause to undergo condensation

Other Word Forms

• overcondense verb
• precondense verb
• recondense verb
• uncondensing adjective
• condensable adjective
• condensability noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of condense¹

First recorded in 1475–85; from Middle French condenser, from Latin condēnsāre, from con- con- + dēnsāre “to thicken,” verb derivative of dēnsus dense

Word History and Origins

Origin of condense¹

C15: from Latin condēnsāre, from dēnsāre to make thick, from dēnsus _dense

Synonym Study

See contract.

Example Sentences

These dusty specks condense from the hottest parts of the cloud, in a similar way to the raindrops that form inside clouds here on Earth.

Read more on Space Scoop

Most current systems rely on sunlight to warm these materials until the trapped moisture evaporates and condenses into liquid.

Read more on Science Daily

In front of me, the sheet of red light collects and condenses into an orb of golden Obayifo spirit.

Read more on Literature

It’s a condensed serif in particular that’s now sweeping the nation.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

When pressure in the reactor gets too high, a safety valve opens and allows steam to escape into the torus, where it condenses back into water.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• compress 
• curtail 
• shorten 
• summarize 
• thicken