vapored; vaporing
ˈvā-p(ə-)riŋ 
1
a
: to rise or pass off in vapor
b
: to emit vapor
2
: to indulge in bragging, blustering, or idle talk
va·por·er
variants
or British vapourer
ˈvāpərə(r)
plural -s
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Speakers of the English language, mindful of the lightness and unsubstantiality of floating air and gas, have put several airy words to good use over the years to describe the act of talking idly or boastfully. The earliest such word is blow (as in "he kept blowing about his new job"), which drifted into English sometime about 1400. Vapor wafted into the language in the 1620s, and a little over 200 years later windbags, later also known as gasbags, not only blew and vapored but also gassed about anything they could.
Examples of vapor in a Sentence
Verb
a faded Southern belle tiresomely vaporing about all the handsome beaux she had in her long-ago youth
Recent Examples on the Web
Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 18 Dec. 2025
Such speeds tend to produce bright meteors, which leave long-lasting streaks or vapor trains in their wake.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 14 Nov. 2025
Nasal decongestant vapor inhaler: A nasal inhaler is a decongestant formula used to inhale for relief.
—Daley Quinn, Health, 26 Apr. 2024
Scorching flames turn it to vapor and keep heating that steam to more than 400 degrees Fahrenheit before sending it out around Manhattan.
—Patrick McGeehan, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for vapor
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Verb
At its most basic level, the evaporative cooling occurs when ambient air temperature converts a liquid to vapor.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 18 Dec. 2025
Such speeds tend to produce bright meteors, which leave long-lasting streaks or vapor trains in their wake.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 14 Nov. 2025
Nasal decongestant vapor inhaler: A nasal inhaler is a decongestant formula used to inhale for relief.
—Daley Quinn, Health, 26 Apr. 2024
Scorching flames turn it to vapor and keep heating that steam to more than 400 degrees Fahrenheit before sending it out around Manhattan.
—Patrick McGeehan, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024
See All Example Sentences for vapor
Cite this Entry
“Vapor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vapor. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
vapor
noun
va·por
variants
or chiefly British vapour
1
a
: a substance in the gaseous state as distinguished from the liquid or solid state
b
: a substance (as alcohol or benzoin) vaporized for industrial, therapeutic, or military uses
2
vapors or chiefly British vapours plural
a
: exhalations of bodily organs (as the stomach) formerly held to affect the physical or mental condition
b
: a depressed or hysterical nervous condition
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