evaporate

/ɪˈvæp.ə.ɹeɪt/

//ɪˈvæp.ə.ɹeɪt// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"evaporate" is a 9-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“evaporate” is a moderately-common English word, ranked #28,535 in English word frequency and used as a verb.

#28,535
frequency rank, English
9
letters
12
tracked misspellings
1
confusable pair

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - To transition from a liquid state into a gaseous state.

Visual similarity to commonly confused words

How many letter changes separate each confused pair (Levenshtein distance, normalized).

evaporate vs elaborate
78% similar

Source: PlainSpell confusable corpus (Wiktionary, CC BY-SA).

Key facts for evaporate
PropertyValue
Headwordevaporate
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ɪˈvæp.ə.ɹeɪt/
Letters9
Frequency rank#28,535
Misspellings tracked12
Confusable pairs1
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “evaporate” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). evaporate lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for evaporate is 9 letters long, classified as a verb, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /ɪˈvæp.ə.ɹeɪt/. Corpus data places it at rank #28,535 in overall English word frequency, marking it as uncommon enough that many writers pause before typing it. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 12 likely wrong-spelling variants for evaporate, with forms such as "eavporate", "evaoprate", and "evapoarte". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. It also participates in 1 confusable-pair relationship, "elaborate", since the words sound or look close enough that writers reach for the wrong one mid-sentence.

Etymologically, the entry records: First attested in 1545, borrowed from Latin ēvapōrātus, the perfect passive participle of ēvapōrō (“to evaporate”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix). See also Middle English evaporaten (“to draw off humors or "spirits" as "… The correct English form is evaporate, spelled E-V-A-P-O-R-A-T-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To transition from a liquid state into a gaseous state.
  2. 2
    To expel moisture from (usually by means of artificial heat), leaving the solid portion.
  3. 3
    To give vent to; to dissipate.
  4. 4
    To disappear; to escape or pass off without effect.
  5. 5
    To cause to disappear or to escape or pass off without effect.

Etymology

First attested in 1545, borrowed from Latin ēvapōrātus, the perfect passive participle of ēvapōrō (“to evaporate”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix). See also Middle English evaporaten (“to draw off humors or "spirits" as "vapor"”) and evaporen (“to draw off bodily fluid, an excess or toxic matter by converting it into "vapor"; to treat (a part of the body) by drawing off toxic matter converted into "vapor"”). Participial usage up until Early Modern English.

This word in other languages

evaporar(Español)évaporer(Français)verdampfen(Deutsch)evaporar(Português)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: eavporate,evaoprate,evapoarte,evaporaet,evaporatte,evaporrate,evaportae,evapporate,evaproate,evpaorate,evvaporate,veaporate

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of evaporate - counted as single-character edits (an insertion, a deletion, or a substituted letter). The larger the bar, the easier the typo is to spot; one-edit slips are the ones that sneak past readers.

eavporate2evaoprate2evapoarte2evaporaet2evaporatte1evaporrate1evaportae2evapporate1
Edit distance from "evaporate"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "evaporate"?
"evaporate" is spelled E-V-A-P-O-R-A-T-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ɪˈvæp.ə.ɹeɪt/.
What does "evaporate" mean?
As a verb, "evaporate" means: To transition from a liquid state into a gaseous state.
What words are commonly confused with "evaporate"?
"evaporate" is commonly confused with "elaborate". These words look or sound similar but have different meanings. PlainSpell provides detailed comparisons for each pair.
How do you pronounce "evaporate"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "evaporate" is /ɪˈvæp.ə.ɹeɪt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "evaporate"?
First attested in 1545, borrowed from Latin ēvapōrātus, the perfect passive participle of ēvapōrō (“to evaporate”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix) and -ate (adjective-forming suffix). See also Middle English evaporaten (“to draw off humors or "spi... See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “evaporate”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is E-V-A-P-O-R-A-T-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ɪˈvæp.ə.ɹeɪt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Don't mix it up with “elaborate” - see the side-by-side comparison. evaporate vs elaborate
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list