evaporated

/ɪˈvæp.ər.eɪt/ (bre, ipa) · [ɪvˈæpɚˌetəd] /ɪˈvæp.ə.reɪt/ (ame, ipa) · [ɪvˈæpɚˌetəd] /i-ˈva-p(ə-)ˌrāt/ (ame, mw)

evaporated — verb

  • evaporatedpresent simple I / you / we / they
  • evaporateds3rd person singular
  • evaporateding-ing form
  • evaporatededpast simple

1. to change from a liquid into a gas, or to make a liquid turn into a gas, through

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B1
釋義

to change from a liquid into a gas, or to make a liquid turn into a gas, through heating or by natural processes over time

例句

The morning sun quickly evaporated the puddles left by last night's rain.

transitive: sun + evaporate + liquid object

Yumi left saltwater in a shallow dish so it would evaporate and leave the salt behind.

intransitive: liquid evaporates on its own

同義詞
  • vaporize

    more scientific or dramatic; implies very fast or complete conversion to vapor

  • dry up

    focuses on the result (all liquid gone) rather than the process

  • dissipate

    emphasizes dispersion, often used for moisture or fog

反義詞
  • condense

    gas turning back into liquid (the opposite physical process)

文法句型

evaporate

evaporate + object

用法筆記

Both transitive (someone evaporates something) and intransitive (something evaporates) uses are common. The subject of the intransitive form is the liquid itself; the subject of the transitive form is a heat source or a person applying heat.

常見錯誤

❌The water evaporated away quickly.
✅The water evaporated quickly.
💡'away' is redundant because evaporate already means to disappear into the air.
❌I evaporated the milk for the recipe.' (when the learner means they used canned evaporated milk)
✅I boiled the sauce until some of the water evaporated and it thickened.
💡To evaporate means to turn liquid into vapor, not to use the pre-prepared canned product.

2. to disappear gradually, especially when this happens without warning or explanat

2.動詞不及物B1
釋義

to disappear gradually, especially when this happens without warning or explanation — used about feelings, hopes, money, or other abstract things

例句

All of Tyler's confidence evaporated the moment he stepped onto the stage.

figurative: emotion (confidence) as subject

By the time the bus arrived, any hope of catching the train had already evaporated.

同義詞
  • vanish

    more sudden and complete; less gradual than evaporate

  • fade

    suggests a slow, steady loss of intensity over time

  • melt away

    informal; suggests something dissolves like ice, often used for emotions or opposition

反義詞
  • appear

    to come into existence (the opposite of disappearing)

  • materialize

    to become real or actually happen (opposite of evaporating hopes)

文法句型

evaporate

用法筆記

Only used intransitively — you cannot 'evaporate something' in the figurative sense. Subject is always abstract: emotions (hope, anger, confidence), resources (savings, support), or intangible qualities (enthusiasm, interest).

常見錯誤

❌The hot weather evaporated my energy.
✅My energy evaporated in the hot weather.
💡The figurative sense is only intransitive; the energy disappeared, but nothing 'evaporated' the energy.
❌He evaporated his savings on gambling.
✅His savings evaporated after months of gambling.
💡In the figurative sense, evaporate does not take a direct object.