Meaning & use
condense
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Meanings
verbtransitive
To make something shorter or more compact by removing unnecessary parts; to reduce text or information to its essential points.
Grammar: Takes an object: condense a report.
Patterns
- condense something into something
- condense something to something
- condense a text
She condensed the 50-page report into a two-page summary.
The editor asked him to condense the article for the magazine.
You can condense the whole story into a few sentences.
verbtransitive or intransitivetechnical
To change from a gas to a liquid, usually by cooling.
Grammar: Can be used with an object (condense the steam) or without (steam condenses).
Patterns
- condense into something
- condense on something
- condense something
When the temperature drops, water vapor condenses into droplets.
The steam condensed on the cold window pane.
The process condenses the gas back into a liquid.
Word forms
| third person singular | condenses |
|---|---|
| past tense | condensed |
| past participle | condensed |
| -ing form | condensing |
Common combinations
- condense a report
- He condensed the report to fit the one-page limit.
- condense into
- The essay was condensed into a short paragraph.
- condensed milk
- She added condensed milk to the coffee.
- condense on
- Moisture condensed on the cold glass.
Synonyms and how they differ
- shorten
- Shorten means to make something shorter, often by cutting the end; condense suggests reducing while keeping the main ideas.
- abridge
- Abridge is more formal and often used for books or legal texts; condense is more general.
- summarize
- Summarize means to give a brief statement of the main points; condense focuses on making the original shorter.
Opposites
Word family
- condensation noun
- The process of changing from a gas to a liquid, or the act of making something shorter.
- condensed adjective
- Made shorter or thicker, as in condensed milk.
Commonly confused: condense or condescend?
condense vs condescend
Condescend means to behave as if you are better than others; it sounds similar but has a very different meaning.
Practice
The editor asked her to ______ the article to fit the space.
Choose one answer.
Condense means to make shorter or more compact, which fits the context of fitting an article into limited space. The other options mean 'criticize strongly' (condemn), 'accept or forgive' (condone), and 'carry out' (conduct), which do not make sense here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “condense”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.