Condensation
noun
Definition
1. (noun) Small drops of water that form on a cold surface when warm, moist air touches it.
2. (noun) The process of a gas or vapour cooling down and turning into liquid.
2. (noun) The process of a gas or vapour cooling down and turning into liquid.
Context Alive
You're driving to work on a cold morning and the inside of your windshield is completely covered in condensation. You can barely see the road. You turn on the heater and point it at the glass, wiping it with your sleeve while you wait. After a minute the condensation clears and you can finally pull out of the driveway. You make a mental note to leave five minutes earlier tomorrow.
Meanings
2 meanings 1 Water Droplets on a Cold Surface (Noun) Very Common ▼
This meaning is about the small water droplets that appear on cold surfaces — windows, mirrors, glasses, pipes — when warm, moist air comes into contact with them. Imagine taking a cold bottle of water out of the fridge on a hot day. Within seconds, tiny droplets cover the outside of the bottle — that's condensation. This is describing something most people see every day without thinking about it. You might say "there's condensation all over the bathroom mirror after a shower" when the steam from hot water covers the glass in droplets, or someone could say "the condensation on the windows is a sign of poor ventilation" when a room stays too warm and sealed. Or picture a restaurant where your cold glass of beer is dripping with water on the outside — that water is condensation from the warm air in the room hitting the cold glass. The word describes the visible result of warm meeting cold.
✏️ This is the meaning most people use in daily life. Condensation on windows is the classic example — everyone has dealt with it, especially in winter. In homes, too much condensation can lead to damp and mould, so it's a common topic in property maintenance. People often shorten it casually: "there's condensation everywhere" or "the window's covered in condensation."
2 The Process of Gas Turning into Liquid (Noun) Common ▼
This meaning is about the scientific process itself — when a gas or vapour loses heat and changes state from gas to liquid. Imagine a science class where the teacher boils water in a flask and holds a cold plate above the steam. Droplets form on the plate because the steam cools down and turns back into water — that process is condensation. This is describing a fundamental process in nature and science. You might read that "condensation is a key stage in the water cycle" in a geography textbook explaining how clouds form rain, or someone could say "condensation occurs when warm air rises and cools at higher altitudes" to explain how weather systems work. Or think about how morning dew appears on grass — overnight, the air cools and moisture in it undergoes condensation, leaving tiny droplets on every surface. The word here refers to the process, not just the visible result.
✏️ In science, condensation is the opposite of evaporation — one turns liquid into gas, the other turns gas back into liquid. Together they form the water cycle. You'll see this meaning in physics, chemistry, geography, and engineering. The verb form is condense: "steam condenses on cold surfaces."
Common Patterns
Everyday Use
condensation on + surface → water droplets forming on a specific cold surface
There's condensation on all the windows every morning in winter.
covered in condensation → a surface completely coated with water droplets
The bathroom mirror was covered in condensation after my shower.
wipe off / clear the condensation → to remove the water droplets from a surface
I had to wipe the condensation off the windshield before I could drive.
Science / Technical
condensation occurs / forms → describing when and how the process happens
Condensation occurs when warm moist air meets a cold surface.
condensation and evaporation → the two opposite processes in the water cycle
Students learn about condensation and evaporation in basic science class.
cause / prevent condensation → what triggers it or how to stop it
Good ventilation helps prevent condensation from building up indoors.
Collocations
10 collocationscondensation on windows
water droplets forming on cold glass — the most common everyday example
condensation on the mirror
steam from a shower leaving droplets on the bathroom mirror
covered in condensation
a surface completely coated with tiny water droplets
wipe off condensation
to clean water droplets from a surface by hand
cause condensation
to create the conditions that produce water droplets
prevent condensation
to stop droplets from forming — usually through ventilation
condensation builds up
moisture gradually collects over time
condensation problems
issues caused by too much moisture — damp, mould, damage
water cycle condensation
the stage where vapour cools and forms clouds or rain
condensation and mould
a common pairing — excess moisture leading to mould growth
Example Sentences
10 examples
1
There's condensation all over the bedroom windows every morning — we need better ventilation.
Water droplets cover the bedroom glass every morning — we need more airflow in the room.
2
She wiped the condensation off the bathroom mirror so she could see her reflection.
She cleared the steam droplets from the mirror so she could see herself.
3
The cold bottle was dripping with condensation within seconds of being taken out of the fridge.
The chilled bottle was covered in water droplets moments after leaving the fridge.
4
Condensation is a key part of the water cycle — it's how clouds form.
The process of vapour turning into liquid is essential to the water cycle — that's how clouds are made.
5
Too much condensation in the house can lead to damp walls and black mould.
Excess moisture indoors can cause wet walls and dangerous mould growth.
6
I couldn't see out of the car because the windshield was covered in condensation.
The car windows were completely fogged up with moisture and I couldn't see a thing.
7
Opening a window for ten minutes a day helps reduce condensation in the kitchen.
Letting fresh air in for ten minutes daily cuts down on moisture buildup in the kitchen.
8
The teacher demonstrated condensation by holding a cold plate over a boiling kettle.
The teacher showed the class how vapour turns into liquid by placing a cold surface above steam.
9
Morning dew on the grass is a natural example of condensation.
The tiny water droplets on grass in the early morning are a real-life example of vapour becoming liquid.
10
The landlord said the condensation problem was caused by drying clothes indoors.
The landlord blamed the moisture issue on hanging wet laundry inside the flat.
Synonyms & Antonyms
6 items
Synonymsmoisture
more general — any dampness or small amount of water in the air or on surfaces
dew
specifically the water droplets that form on outdoor surfaces overnight
steam
related but technically the vapour before it condenses — often used loosely for the same thing
Antonymsevaporation
the opposite process — liquid turning into gas instead of gas turning into liquid
dryness
the absence of moisture — no condensation present
dehydration
the removal of water from something — the opposite direction of gaining moisture