During which part of the water cycle does water vapor turn back into liquid?

The process of water vapor turning back into liquid occurs during condensation. In the water cycle, when water vapor rises into the atmosphere, it cools as it gains altitude. As it cools, the water vapor molecules lose energy and begin to cluster together, forming tiny droplets of liquid water. This is what contributes to the formation of clouds. Eventually, when these droplets combine and grow larger, they can lead to precipitation, but the specific phase where vapor transforms into liquid is clearly defined as condensation.