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
She played golf with him;, was always around to congratulate him or condole over his score.
From Time Magazine Archive
Last week Mrs. McGuire, owner of 40 dogs herself, hurried to Long Island to condole with Poopchin and the Pekes.
From Time Magazine Archive
Mrs. Alexander tip-toed in and immediately began to condole with him.
From Polly and Her Friends Abroad by Roy, Lillian Elizabeth
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
“Qu’est-ce que tu veux, ma pauvre Mimi?” condoles Céleste, as she approaches the family feline.
From The Real Latin Quarter by Smith, F. Berkeley (Frank Berkeley)
Friends come weeping again, and the minister condoles them with the sad old story of God's inscrutable ways.
He is truly my friend who, with a ready presence of mind, supports me; not he who condoles with me upon my ill success, and says he is sorry for my loss.
From ?sop's Fables, Embellished with One Hundred and Eleven Emblematical Devices. by ?sop
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
The President condoled with them, thanked them for their public spirit.
From Time Magazine Archive
"Sure the birds couldn't be in it this weather," said Jerry considerately; he had in his time condoled with many sportsmen.
From In Mr. Knox's Country by Ross, Martin
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
"That is true," observed Sir William, as though condoling with Mr. Butler for a misfortune not his fault.
From Cardigan by Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William)
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.
