condition

How good or damaged something is, especially after being used for some time.

• The car is in good condition.
• These old books are still in excellent condition.
• Check the condition of the roof before buying the house.

How to use it: in ... condition (The bicycle is in excellent condition.)

Similar words: state, state of repair

Common phrases: good condition, poor condition, excellent condition, original condition

How healthy or ill a patient is at a particular time.

• Her condition is improving.
• The injured driver is in a stable condition.
• Doctors monitored his condition throughout the night.

How to use it: in a ... condition (The patient remains in a critical condition.)

Similar words: state of health

Common phrases: critical condition, stable condition, serious condition

An illness or other health problem, often one that lasts a long time.

• He has a heart condition.
• This medicine treats several skin conditions.
• Was your condition diagnosed before you moved here?

Similar words: illness, disorder

Common phrases: heart condition, skin condition, medical condition, chronic condition

Something that must be true or happen before another thing is allowed or possible.

• You can stay on one condition.
• The loan has several conditions that we must meet.
• They agreed on condition that the work started immediately.

How to use it: on condition that… (You can borrow my car on condition that you return it tonight.); condition for something (A valid passport is a condition for entry.)

Similar words: requirement, prerequisite

Common phrases: on one condition, meet a condition, necessary condition, essential condition

A statement that can be true or false and determines whether another step happens.

• The program checks this condition first.
• If the condition is false, the loop stops.
• Both conditions must be true before the message appears.

Similar words: test

Common phrases: true condition, check a condition, logical condition

To teach someone to behave in a certain way through repeated experiences or training.

• Rewards conditioned the dog to sit quietly.
• Children can be conditioned to fear making mistakes.
• Advertising has conditioned us to want newer products.

How to use it: condition someone to do something (The training conditioned the dogs to respond to a bell.); be conditioned to do something (We are conditioned to expect quick answers.)

Similar words: train, program

Common phrases: condition someone, condition someone to respond, socially condition someone

To train the body or a body part so it becomes stronger and can handle physical demands.

• Swimming conditions your whole body.
• The fighters conditioned their shins through careful training.
• She is conditioning her muscles for the climb.

How to use it: condition someone/something for something (These exercises condition your body for long races.)

Similar words: train, strengthen

Common phrases: condition the body, condition your muscles, condition your shins

To make someone or something become used to a different environment.

• The animals were conditioned to the cold.
• Regular outdoor work conditioned him to the heat.
• It takes time to become conditioned to a new climate.

How to use it: condition someone/something to something (Repeated exposure conditioned the workers to the heat.); be conditioned to something (The animals are conditioned to the cold.)

Similar words: acclimatize, accustom

Common phrases: condition someone, condition to heat, condition to cold