What does condense mean?
Condense is a verb with two closely related senses: physically, it describes the process by which a gas or vapour becomes a liquid — as when moisture condenses on a cold window — or by which something is made denser and more compact; figuratively, it means to shorten a text or piece of information so that only its essentials remain, as in condensing a report into a one-page summary. Both senses share the core idea of drawing things tighter and eliminating what is superfluous. The word is standard in both British and American English and fits comfortably in formal and informal registers alike. It derives from the Latin condensare, formed from com- ("together") and densus ("dense"), and its family includes condensation, condenser, and the adjective condensed. Common pairings include "condense into" and everyday compounds such as condensed milk and condensed soup.
verbTo make something denser or more compact, especially by removing water or other fluid; also to shorten a text or speech while retaining its essential content.
- (of a gas or vapour) to change into a liquid, or to cause a substance to do so; more generally, to make something denser or more compact
- to shorten or reduce a text, statement, or piece of information while keeping its essential meaning
"She managed to condense her entire dissertation into a single page."
"The cold glass caused the warm air's moisture to condense on its surface."
"He condensed the three-hour lecture into a concise ten-minute briefing."
Every raindrop in a cloud began as vapour that condensed — the same word that turns steam into water also turns 400-page novels into two-line summaries.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of condense
Condense comes from the Latin condensare, meaning "to make dense," a combination of the prefix com- ("together") and densus ("thick, dense"). It entered English in the early 17th century, initially in scientific contexts describing the compression of matter. The word is related to English "dense" and "density," which trace back to the same Latin root densus, and its derivatives include condensation and condenser.
Related word forms
How condense is actually used
Standard in both formal and informal registers. In scientific writing it typically refers specifically to the physical phase change from gas to liquid (or to making a substance denser), while in everyday and editorial contexts it most often means shortening text. The noun form "condensation" covers both the physical process and an abridged version of a work.
Easily confused with condense
"Condescend" means to act patronisingly toward others, whereas "condense" means to make something more compact or brief.