distil

American  

[dih-stil] / dɪˈstɪl /

verb (used with or without object)

distilled, distilling

1. Chiefly British. a variant of distill.

---

distil British  

/ dɪsˈtɪl /

verb

1. to subject to or undergo distillation See also rectify

2. to purify, separate, or concentrate, or be purified, separated, or concentrated by distillation

3. to obtain or be obtained by distillation

   to distil whisky

4. to exude or give off (a substance) in drops or small quantities

5. (tr) to extract the essence of as if by distillation

---

Other Word Forms

• distillable adjective

Etymology

Origin of distil

C14: from Latin dēstillāre to distil, from _de- + stillāre to drip

Example Sentences

In a Nasa video, each of the astronauts distil the mission into a single phrase.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

Cleverly said any attempt to distil the relationship down to a single word or a sound bite was fundamentally flawed.

From Reuters • Aug. 30, 2023

For all the talk of 'Bazball' and the thrill of freewheeling run-chases, it remained a reality that England would have to distil their aggression into a style that will work in all circumstances.

From BBC • Aug. 26, 2022

Cobb also eloquently shows how figurative language does much more than simply distil or give shape to complex, intangible subjects.

From Nature • Mar. 29, 2020

Nothing, in short, was over-looked or forgotten that could be made to distil one drop of its value towards decorating the beauties of Silverton.

From The Widow Barnaby Vol. I (of 3) by Trollope, Frances Eleanor