Meaning & use
vaporizing
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“vaporizing” is a form of “vaporize”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbintransitive
Turning a liquid into gas or mist, usually by heating it or forcing it through a fine nozzle.
Grammar: Used without an object when the liquid itself changes: the water was vaporizing quickly.
Patterns
- something vaporizes at a temperature
- vaporize into something
The alcohol was vaporizing as soon as it hit the warm pan.
At that pressure the fuel starts vaporizing before it burns.
You can see the mist vaporizing above the hot spring.
verbtransitive
Causing a liquid to turn into gas or mist, for example with heat or a device.
Grammar: Takes an object: vaporize the liquid.
Patterns
- vaporize something
- vaporize something with heat
The machine vaporizes the medicine so the patient can breathe it in.
High heat vaporized the water in seconds.
They vaporize the oil and collect the lighter compounds.
verbtransitivefigurative
Destroying something completely so that nothing solid remains.
Grammar: Often used in science fiction or dramatic news writing; takes an object.
Patterns
- vaporize something
- be vaporized by something
The blast vaporized the outer wall of the building.
In the story, the ray gun vaporizes anything it touches.
Word forms
| third person singular | vaporizes |
|---|---|
| past tense | vaporized |
| past participle | vaporized |
| -ing form | vaporizing |
Common combinations
- vaporize instantly
- The droplets vaporize instantly on the hot surface.
- vaporize at a low temperature
- This liquid vaporizes at a surprisingly low temperature.
- vaporize water
- The sun can vaporize water from shallow pools.
- vaporize into steam
- The jet of water vaporized into steam.
- completely vaporize
- The heat completely vaporized the sample.
Synonyms and how they differ
- evaporate
- Evaporate is the everyday word for a liquid slowly turning to gas on its own; vaporize is stronger and often suggests heat or a device.
- atomize
- Atomize means breaking a liquid into a fine spray, which may not involve turning it into true gas.
- gasify
- Gasify is a technical term used mostly in industry for turning a solid or liquid fuel into gas.
Opposites
Word family
- vapor noun
- The gas form of a substance that is usually liquid or solid.
- vaporizer noun
- A device that turns a liquid into mist or gas.
- vaporization noun
- The process of changing from liquid to gas.
- vaporous adjective
- Having the form of vapor; thin and misty.
Commonly confused: vaporizing or vaporizing? vaporizing or evaporating?
vaporizing vs vaporizing
Some learners write 'vaporising' (British spelling with s); both are correct, but American texts use z.
vaporizing vs evaporating
Evaporating usually happens naturally and slowly; vaporizing often suggests a fast change caused by heat or pressure.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'vaporizing' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Vaporizing' describes a liquid turning into gas, so a puddle in the sun fits. The other options use the -ing form with the wrong grammar or the wrong meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “vaporizing”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.