evaporate
Americanverb (used without object)
verb (used with object)
-
to convert into a gaseous state or vapor; drive off or extract in the form of vapor.
The warm sun evaporated the dew.
-
to extract moisture or liquid from, as by heat, so as to make dry or to reduce to a denser state.
to evaporate fruit.
-
to cause to disappear or fade; dissipate.
His involvement in the scandal evaporated any hope he had for a political career.
verb
-
to change or cause to change from a liquid or solid state to a vapour Compare boil 1
-
to lose or cause to lose liquid by vaporization, leaving a more concentrated residue
-
to disappear or cause to disappear; fade away or cause to fade away
all her doubts evaporated
-
(tr) to deposit (a film, metal, etc) by vaporization of a liquid or solid and the subsequent condensation of its vapour
Usage
What does evaporate mean? Evaporate means to change from a liquid or solid state into vapor (like fog, mist, or steam). It can be used in a passive way, as in The water evaporated overnight, or an active way, as in The sun evaporates the water on the surface. The process of evaporating is called evaporation. Both terms are typically used in the context of water turning into water vapor. Water evaporates when it changes into steam through boiling, but in scientific terms, evaporation typically refers to the change of a liquid into a vapor at a temperature below the boiling point, such as when water evaporates from the surface of the ocean. In this way, evaporation is an important part of the water cycle. Evaporate can also be used in a figurative way meaning to disappear, as in The family’s wealth has evaporated, and now they have nothing. Example: The dew on the grass evaporates more quickly in the sunny parts of the yard.
Synonym Usage
Evaporate, dehydrate, dry mean to abstract moisture from. To evaporate is to remove moisture by means of heat, forced ventilation, or the like, and thus to produce condensation or shriveling: to evaporate milk, sliced apples. To dehydrate is to remove moisture from a vegetable, fruit, or body tissue: to dehydrate fruit; dehydrated from running. To dry may mean to wipe moisture off the surface or to withdraw moisture by natural means, such as exposure to air or heat: to dry a dish, clothes.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
evaporabilitynoun
-
evaporationnoun
-
evaporatornoun
-
preevaporateverb
-
evaporableadjective
-
evaporativeadjective
-
half-evaporatedadjective
-
half-evaporatingadjective
-
nonevaporatingadjective
-
unevaporatedadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
evaporatesimple
-
evaporatessimple
-
have evaporatedperfect
-
has evaporatedperfect
-
am evaporatingprogressive
-
are evaporatingprogressive
-
is evaporatingprogressive
-
have been evaporatingperfect progressive
-
has been evaporatingperfect progressive
Past
-
evaporatedsimple
-
had evaporatedperfect
-
was evaporatingprogressive
-
were evaporatingprogressive
-
had been evaporatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of evaporate
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English evaporaten, from Latin ēvapōrātus (past participle of ēvapōrāre “to disperse in vapor”); see e- 1, vapor, -ate 1
Explanation
To evaporate is to fade away or to literally turn into vapor. If you leave a glass of water out and the water slowly disappears, it's not being consumed by elves; it's evaporating. People often use the word evaporate metaphorically because it produces a strong image of something disappearing like vapor. When the economy goes through a rough patch, funding for projects like education and the arts tends to evaporate or disappear. Your feelings for a mate might evaporate after you spend too much time with him or her.
Vocabulary lists containing evaporate
Words to Know Before You Defrost the Bird
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!
50 Great Words from The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, by Mark Haddon
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!
Structure and Properties of Matter - Middle School
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.
See Examples For:
They move air across the skin, which can help sweat evaporate and make people feel cooler.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 29, 2026
But Richard Windsor, an independent analyst at Radio Free Mobile, said the company is relying on the “illusory security of a series of unrealised investment returns that will evaporate at the first hint of trouble.”
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 23, 2026
"You can harness that mechanism by putting some liquid in front of the fan, which can evaporate."
From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026
But in the crypto market, where memecoins can quickly evaporate in value and “rug pulls” are a constant threat, other investors are resigned to their losses.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026
Her shoulders are drawn in like she’s trying to make herself even smaller, trying to evaporate on the spot, and we stand too far apart, the entire width of the hallway between us.
From "Allegiant" by Veronica Roth
Heat domes can cause "dry thunderstorms," in which rain evaporates before hitting the ground and lightning strikes are liable to trigger wildfires, as much of the western United States is already experiencing drought conditions.
From Barron's ● Jul. 14, 2026
This separation is a phase change that consumes energy, inducing a cooling effect, like when steam evaporates off a cup of hot water.
From BBC ● Jun. 16, 2026
That is the real prize, and it evaporates the instant one man tries to seize it all.
From Slate ● Jun. 11, 2026
But customers can find the apparent guarantee of compensation for disasters evaporates when they come to claim.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 31, 2026
Also snow can be pink if red dirt dissolves in water that evaporates and— Dad squeezes my shoulder.
From "Mockingbird" by Kathryn Erskine
This misdirection masked Washington’s responsibility for $2.7 trillion in U.S. financial sector losses and $4.1 trillion globally, alongside massive indirect destruction—a $14 trillion loss in U.S. output and $19 trillion in evaporated household wealth.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
"As suddenly as you began, you stopped, your anger evaporated, and then you dozed off."
From BBC ● Jul. 24, 2026
By simply changing the number of bubbles in each droplet, the team found they could dramatically alter the pattern left behind as the liquid evaporated.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 11, 2026
While Platner—whose lead in the race had evaporated after a previous wave of stories about his relationship history—has not yet relented, he has suggested that he’s reassessing his run.
From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026
Those initial dazed expressions long since evaporated, the special recruits were all eagerness now, and both had greedy glints in their eyes.
From "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart
"Not only have we been able to clear the view, but we can finally pin down what the clouds are made out of and how they're condensing and evaporating as they move around the planet."
From Science Daily ● May 27, 2026
“The argument for having lower rates is just evaporating right before our very eyes,” said Brian Bethune, an economist at Boston College, in an interview with MarketWatch.
From MarketWatch ● Feb. 28, 2026
Most no- or low-alcohol wines rely on a de-alcoholisation process which sees the wine heated in vacuum conditions, with the alcohol evaporating off at relatively low temperatures.
From Barron's ● Feb. 12, 2026
One way to avoid rewards evaporating before you realize it: make a habit of checking the app or online wallet for your account.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 17, 2025
I want to say something to him, but the words keep evaporating, vanishing off my tongue before I have the chance to say them.
From "The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins
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.
