condole
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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condolernoun
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condolatoryadjective
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uncondolatoryadjective
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uncondoledadjective
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uncondolingadjective
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condolinglyadverb
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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condolesimple
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condolessimple
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have condoledperfect
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has condoledperfect
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am condolingprogressive
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are condolingprogressive
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is condolingprogressive
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have been condolingperfect progressive
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has been condolingperfect progressive
Past
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condoledsimple
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had condoledperfect
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was condolingprogressive
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were condolingprogressive
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had been condolingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of condole
1580–90; < Late Latin condolēre, equivalent to con- con- + dolēre to feel pain; akin to dolor
Explanation
When you condole, you express your sadness at someone's death. Sending a "condolence" card is one way to condole with someone who has lost a loved one. When my dog died, I found that other dog owners were more likely to condole with me, since those friends who never had a pet had a harder time understanding how profound my loss was. There are many ways to condole when someone needs comfort after having suffered a loss. You can send a card, you can visit, bring food, or just sit with them as they grieve. If you've lost someone too, then you condole by showing empathy. If not, then you can condole by just lending an ear.
Vocabulary lists containing condole
"The Monkey's Paw" by W. W. Jacobs
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"The Monkey's Paw," Vocabulary from the short story
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"The Monkey's Paw" by W.W. Jacobs
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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.
See Examples For:
There will be time to collectively mourn, condole and rebuild, when they no longer are, when all communities are safe.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 10, 2025
I will definitely miss him and I condole with his family, his BBC fans and the BBC family.
From BBC ● Jan. 18, 2014
Last week Mrs. McGuire, owner of 40 dogs herself, hurried to Long Island to condole with Poopchin and the Pekes.
From Time Magazine Archive
She played golf with him;, was always around to congratulate him or condole over his score.
From Time Magazine Archive
You, dear John, seem the only fitting person for me to condole with, for you will miss him most tremendously.
From The Letters of William James, Vol. II by James, William
Her team listens, condoles with the families and tries to humanise the situation.
From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026
In his best vestryman's voice, T. S. Eliot restates his cultured disenchantment with the wartime world and condoles with humanity, shivering in "the cold wind That blows before and after time."
From Time Magazine Archive
It hereby condoles with Crofter in the jolly back seat he has got to take, and is sorry he shirked the Mile.
From Tom, Dick and Harry by Reed, Talbot Baines
Mr. Vernor condoles with me handsomely, and lets me know that the young lady’s attitude has been a great shock to his nerves.
From Eugene Pickering by James, Henry
While the billow mournful rolls, And the mermaid's song condoles, Singing—"Glory to the souls Of the brave!"
From Library of the World's Best Literature, Ancient and Modern, Vol. VIII by Various
Marcos Jr. visited Ramos’ wake Thursday and condoled with the family of Ramos, who, he said, “was a symbol of stability after all the tumultuous events of 1986.”
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 8, 2022
They condoled with her for the hate mail.
From The Guardian ● Sep. 22, 2019
"Mr. American, how come you haven't even condoled?"
From US News ● Oct. 22, 2014
Last week tough old Atheist Clemenceau, 87, followed Death to the house of Christian Foch, 77, and condoled privily with Mme. la Marechale.
From Time Magazine Archive
On our way home, Mrs. Roseveldt condoled with Rosario.
From Witch Winnie's Mystery, or The Old Oak Cabinet The Story of a King's Daughter by Champney, Elizabeth W. (Elizabeth Williams)
Lukashenko placed red roses at Makei’s coffin before his burial Tuesday and briefly touched the dead man’s arm, gazing at him for a few moments, dry-eyed, before condoling with Makei’s family.
From Washington Post ● Dec. 1, 2022
Now, I’m very sad to be condoling with his family and friends.
From Slate ● Oct. 31, 2020
These days you’ll see that condoling frowny face on nearly TV-news emissary.
From Time ● Oct. 31, 2014
They speak in genial or condoling tones; they have only the best interests of their corporations at heart and truly hope you see it their way.
From Time Magazine Archive
A day before Vanna would have felt unhappily that Piers was chafing at the change of companionship, and condoling with himself in advance on a half-hour’s boredom; to-day she was troubled by no such doubts.
From A Question of Marriage by Vaizey, George de Horne, Mrs.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
