Words / B2

VAN-ish/ˈvænɪʃ/

To vanish is to disappear suddenly, or to stop existing: vanish from the freezer; vanish overnight. Disappear is the everyday twin; fade is slower. The sample vanished, so the practical was voided. Mix-up: varnish is a wood coating. Do not write “vanish away”.

Meaning

To disappear suddenly, or to stop existing.

Examples

• “The sample vanished from the freezer overnight, so the practical was voided.”
• “Public support vanished after the leak, which is the “stop existing” sense.”

Good to know

vanish from / into; vanish overnight. Everyday: disappear. Trap: varnish. Sciences and news. Sudden loss, not a slow fade.

Near in meaning

disappear

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