Meaning & use
condescend
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Meanings
verbintransitivedisapproving
To behave toward others as if you are better or more important than they are.
Grammar: No object; often used with 'to' before the person: She condescended to us.
Patterns
- condescend to someone
- condescend to do something
He condescended to the new interns, explaining things they already understood.
She condescended to her colleagues by praising their 'simple' ideas.
Don't condescend to people just because they speak a different dialect.
verbintransitivedisapproving
To do something that you consider below your dignity, often in a patronizing way.
Grammar: Often used in the pattern 'condescend to do something', showing unwillingness.
Patterns
- condescend to do something
The famous author condescended to sign books for his fans.
She condescended to join us for dinner, though she clearly felt it was a waste of her time.
He condescended to help with the chores only after being asked twice.
Word forms
| third person singular | condescends |
|---|---|
| past tense | condescended |
| past participle | condescended |
| -ing form | condescending |
Common combinations
- condescend to someone
- He always condescends to the waitstaff, which embarrasses his friends.
- condescend to do something
- She condescended to answer my question after a long pause.
- condescending tone
- His condescending tone made everyone in the room uncomfortable.
- condescending attitude
- Her condescending attitude toward beginners discouraged them from asking questions.
Synonyms and how they differ
- patronize
- Similar meaning, but patronize often also means to be a regular customer of a business, so context matters.
- talk down to
- More informal and direct; it specifically means speaking to someone as if they are less intelligent.
Opposites
Word family
- condescending adjective
- Showing that you think you are better than others.
- condescension noun
- The act or quality of behaving in a superior way.
Commonly confused: condescend or condone?
condescend vs condone
Condone means to accept or forgive bad behavior; condescend means to act superior. They sound somewhat similar but have unrelated meanings.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'condescend' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Condescend' is intransitive and often takes 'to' before a verb or person, so 'condescended to help' is correct. The other options use it transitively with a direct object, which is not standard.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “condescend”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.