distil: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Academic, Technical
Quick answer
What does “distil” mean?
To extract the essential meaning or most important aspects of something.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To extract the essential meaning or most important aspects of something; to purify a liquid by heating and condensing the vapour.
To make something more concentrated or potent, either literally (as in liquids) or figuratively (as in ideas or experiences). Also, to undergo or cause to undergo the process of distillation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling 'distil' (double L only in inflections: distilling, distilled) is preferred in British English. 'Distill' (double L in root and inflections: distilling, distilled) is standard in American English.
Connotations
Slightly more technical/scientific in American usage. In British English, the figurative sense is slightly more established in general prose.
Frequency
More frequent in UK English overall (including figurative use), though both variants understand both spellings.
Grammar
How to Use “distil” in a Sentence
distil something (from/out of something)distil something into somethingdistil something down to somethingbe distilledVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “distil” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We must distil the key points from this lengthy report.
- The traditional method is used to distil fine malt whisky.
American English
- He managed to distill a complicated process into a simple diagram.
- They distill the maple sap to produce syrup.
adverb
British English
- The idea was presented distilledly and powerfully.
American English
- The essence of the argument was distilledly clear.
adjective
British English
- The distilled water is used in the laboratory.
- Her writing has a distilled clarity.
American English
- Distilled spirits are subject to heavy taxation.
- He offered a distilled version of events.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The consultant helped us distil our complex strategy into three clear objectives."
Academic
"The chapter distils decades of research into a coherent theoretical framework."
Everyday
"She distils her own lavender water in the garden shed."
Technical
"The apparatus is used to distil crude oil into its various fractions."
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “distil”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “distil”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “distil”
- Confusing spelling between BrE 'distil' and AmE 'distill'.
- Using 'distil' to mean simply 'explain' without the connotation of extraction/concentration.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both are correct. 'Distil' is the standard British English spelling, while 'distill' is the standard American English spelling.
Yes, it is commonly used figuratively to mean extracting the most important parts of information, ideas, or experiences (e.g., 'distil the wisdom from a book').
The main noun forms are 'distillation' (the process) and 'distillate' (the product).
'Extract' is broader, meaning to remove or obtain something. 'Distil' specifically implies a refining or purifying process, often involving heat and condensation for liquids, or intellectual refinement for ideas.
To extract the essential meaning or most important aspects of something.
Distil is usually formal, academic, technical in register.
Distil: in British English it is pronounced /dɪˈstɪl/, and in American English it is pronounced /dɪˈstɪl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “distil the essence of”
- “distil something down to its core”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a STILL (the apparatus for distillation). To di-STIL-l something is to put it through a STILL to get the pure, strong part.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNDERSTANDING/CLARITY IS PURITY (extracting pure truth from messy information).
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'distil' correctly in a figurative sense?