evaporate

verb

evap·​o·​rate i-ˈva-p(ə-)ˌrāt 

evaporated; evaporating

transitive verb

1

a

: to convert into vapor

also : to dissipate or draw off in vapor or fumes

b

: to deposit (a substance, such as a metal) in the form of a film by sublimation

2

a

: to expel moisture from

b

: expel

evaporate electrons from a hot wire

intransitive verb

1

a

: to pass off in vapor or in minute particles

b(1)

: to pass off or away : disappear

her ardor evaporated

(2)

: to diminish quickly

2

: to give forth vapor

evaporative

i-ˈva-pə-ˌrā-tiv 

adjective

evaporator

i-ˈva-pə-ˌrā-tər 

noun

Synonyms

• dematerialize
• disappear
• dissolve
• evanesce
• fade
• flee
• fly
• melt
• sink
• vanish

Examples of evaporate in a Sentence

Let the liquid start to evaporate.

The heat evaporated the water.

The opportunity evaporated before he could act on it.

Recent Examples on the Web

By the dawn of the streaming era in the early 2010s, post-grunge had receded from popular rock and Creed’s mainstream footprint had evaporated. —Jason Lipshutz, Billboard, 18 July 2024

Other animals dispatch arguably grosser bodily fluids to evaporate away their body heat, including urine (seals), liquid poop (vultures) and vomit (bumblebees). —Sarah Everts, TIME, 16 July 2024

Popular on Variety Thankfully, things begin to click into place by the show’s fourth episode, as the unnecessary discourse and random storylines (which will undoubtedly frustrate audiences each week) begin to evaporate. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 14 July 2024

If Sony bought Paramount it would be stripped for parts, thousands of jobs would be made redundant, there would be one fewer buyer, and a legacy studio would evaporate. —Brian Welk, IndieWire, 8 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin evaporatus, past participle of evaporare, from e- + vapor steam, vapor

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Kids Definition

evaporate

verb

evap·​o·​rate i-ˈvap-ə-ˌrāt 

evaporated; evaporating

1

: to pass off or cause to pass off into vapor from a liquid state

2

: to pass off or away : disappear

felt the excitement evaporate

3

: to remove some of the water from (as by heating)

evaporator

-ˌrāt-ər 

noun