Vocabulary antonyms — Choose the word most nearly opposite to ‘‘EXPAND’’ (exam-ready antonym reasoning with close choices).

Given data

• Target word: EXPAND
• Options: Convert; Condense; Congest; Conclude

Concept/Approach'Expand' = to increase in size/volume/extent. 'Condense' = to make denser or more compact; to reduce volume. This is the clean antonym pair widely used in science and writing.

Why not the othersConvert: change form/function; not opposite of size change.Congest: to overcrowd; does not cleanly reverse an item’s expansion.Conclude: to end/finish; unrelated to volume/extent.

Memory hookGas expands when heated, steam condenses when cooled.

Final AnswerCondense