distilled

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "distilled" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that has been purified or concentrated using a distillation process. For example, "The whiskey was distilled for months before it was ready to be bottled."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

New Labour rightly distilled the lesson that there can be advantages to being open to international investment – think of Toyota's expanding Derbyshire plant – but wrongly leapt to the conclusion that the state's only duty in policing takeovers was to safeguard competition.

The Guardian - Opinion

Sans tea, the concept of Englishness can be distilled down to nothing more than a poster reading: "Keep calm and carry on thinking Wayne Rooney is a slightly better striker than he is".

The Guardian - Opinion

Distilled in a single borough is all the pathology and injustice of the British economic model.

The Guardian

Producers are paying around 7,000 pesos (£464) for a ton of the plant, stripped down to a core which yields a sugary liquid that is fermented and distilled twice before becoming tequila.

The Guardian

One key passage could be distilled into two words: Danny Boyle.

The Guardian - Film

Another example of a collaborative approach is Troytown's bestselling St Agnes rose geranium ice-cream: the flower-oil flavouring was distilled by Sam's uncle on his farm.

The Guardian - Travel

Dr Crow, a physician with an interest in chemistry, was an early researcher into the distillation and maturation of whisky, and is credited with refining the use of "sour mash setback", a way to achieve consistent batches of the mash which, after fermentation is complete, is then distilled.

The Economist

State television, which is generally loth to give publicity to the reformists, took the trouble to film all three days of the conference, and then carefully distilled the most distasteful bits into a ten-minute snippet.

The Economist

To track Liaoning's economy, Mr Li looked at rail cargo, bank lending and electricity consumption.Inspired by his example, three economists at the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco have distilled an alternative national growth index from three similar items.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

2 human-written examples

Heading up the bill is Jeff Mills, still seen by many as the style's definitive voice: hostile to frivolity in an earnest quest for utopia, his sound is triple-distilled dance based around immaculate shifts in pace and mood.

The Guardian - Music

For many it is a passion, to the point that most of the arak consumed in the country is not factory-produced, but home-distilled.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "distilled" metaphorically, ensure the context clearly relates to the concept of extracting the most essential elements from something more complex.

Common error

Avoid using "distilled" too frequently in contexts where the meaning isn't directly related to extraction or purification. Overuse can dilute its impact and make your writing sound repetitive.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "distilled" is as a past participle of the verb "distill". It is often used to describe a substance that has undergone distillation or, metaphorically, something that has been refined to its essence. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

46%

Formal & Business

26%

Science

28%

Less common in

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "distilled" is a versatile term with both literal and metaphorical applications. Grammatically correct and very common, as Ludwig AI confirms, it signifies purification, concentration, or reduction to essential elements. Its usage spans across news, formal business writing, and scientific contexts, requiring attention to the specific nuance intended. When used metaphorically, ensure clarity and relevance to the concept of extraction or purification. It's a reminder to avoid overuse in abstract contexts to maintain its impact and prevent repetition. With its consistent presence in authoritative sources like The Economist and The Guardian, mastering its usage enhances precision in communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extracted

Implies a physical or chemical separation, similar to distilling.

refined

Suggests improvement or purification, akin to removing impurities through distillation.

concentrated

Indicates an increase in strength or density, mirroring the effect of distillation.

purified

Focuses on the removal of unwanted substances, akin to one aspect of distillation.

essence extracted

Highlights the extraction of the most important or characteristic aspect.

reduced

Implies a simplification or condensation of something complex.

condensed

Signifies a transformation to a denser or more concise form.

abstracted

Emphasizes the separation of essential qualities or aspects.

filtered

Highlights the removal of unwanted elements, similar to the purification aspect of distillation.

summarized

Indicates a concise presentation of essential information, like distilling a longer text.

FAQs

How can I use "distilled" in a sentence?

You can use "distilled" to describe a liquid that has been purified through distillation, as in "distilled water". Metaphorically, it can describe something refined or reduced to its essence, such as "the artist distilled his experiences into a powerful painting."

What is the difference between "distilled" and "refined"?

"Distilled" implies a process of vaporization and condensation to purify a substance or extract its essence. "Refined", on the other hand, generally refers to a process of removing impurities to improve quality. While both can overlap, "distilled" is more specific to a physical process, while "refined" can be more general.

What can I say instead of "distilled"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "extracted", "refined", "concentrated", or "essence extracted".

Is it correct to say that an idea was "distilled"?

Yes, "distilled" can be used metaphorically to describe an idea that has been refined or reduced to its most essential elements. For example, "The core message was distilled into a single sentence".