Advances in the understanding of the hot forming of ceramic materials and the mechanisms of sintering during the intermediate and final stages of densification during hot pressing are reviewed. The available diffusion and plastic flow models are critically examined and approaches to the development of quantitative multimechanism models for hot pressing are discussed. The effects of grain growth and grain boundary sliding in a porous body are described. Recent developments related to the interpretation of pressure-sintering kinetics through the use of ⪡ densification mechanism maps ⪢ are outlined. Technological advances that have recently been made in relation to fabrication by hot forming and by hot pressing are described. These include the production of large area-high transparency ceramics for optical applications, the development of controlled microstructure and improved properties in magnetic materials, and the preparation of hot-pressed SI 3N 4 materials for ceramic turbine applications. Finally, significant areas for future study, where either fundamental understanding or technological development limit present capabilities, are considered.