Observations of microstructure changes in several systems and the rate of densification during sintering of magnesium oxide, titanium carbide, and tungsten carbide in the presence of a liquid phase indicate that the densification rate is controlled by diffusion through a liquid film between particles. Dependence of the sintering rate on time, particle size, and temperature are in agreement with predictions. Theoretical estimations of the sintering rate are in reasonable agreement with experimental measurements.