boiled; boiling; boils
1
a
: to come to the boiling point
b
: to generate bubbles of vapor when heated
—used of a liquid
c
: to cook in boiling water
2
: to become agitated : seethe
3
: to be moved, excited, or stirred up
4
a
: to rush headlong
b
: to burst forth
5
: to undergo the action of a boiling liquid
1
: to subject to the action of a boiling liquid
2
: to heat to the boiling point
3
: to form or separate (something, such as sugar or salt) by boiling
: a localized swelling and inflammation of the skin resulting from infection of a hair follicle and adjacent tissue, having a hard central core, and forming pus
Synonyms
Examples of boil in a Sentence
Verb
Keep the temperature low enough so the mixture will not boil.
a pot of boiling water
french fries cooked in boiling oil
Noun (1)
the dermatologist lanced the infected boil that had formed on the patient's neck
Recent Examples on the Web
Bhg Test Kitchen, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 May 2024
Don’t forget to pack a small gas canister or portable stove, which are absolutely essential for boiling water — and most importantly, making coffee.
—Kelsey Glennon, Travel + Leisure, 3 May 2024
Everything from Mexican pop to European experimentalism was strained, boiled, compressed and stretched into addictive instrumental taffy.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2024
Old recipes often called for boiling the chicken for upward of an hour, which might have been a good advice for tough old yard birds, but can turn the meat into ropey strands.
—Sheri Castle, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2024
That cushion may not be wide enough given the manifold threats menacing the U.S. economy (elevated commodity prices, sticky inflation, the unbridled rise of federal debt, boiling tensions in the Middle East and Asia, to name a few).
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 7 May 2024
Ayahuasca is a psychedelic liquid made from heating or boiling multiple psychoactive plants from South America, according to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation of Australia.
—Nathan Hart, The Enquirer, 7 May 2024
Cook and stir over medium-high heat until mixture boils.
—Bhg Test Kitchen, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 May 2024
Cosori Electric Kettle Buy on Amazon Tea-drinking grandmothers will love this efficient and easy-to-use electric kettle that boils water in no time for a tasty brew whenever the craving strikes.
—Lizzy Briskin, Peoplemag, 3 May 2024
Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 9 May 2024
The menu will include Wilson’s favorite salads, as well as crawfish, shrimp boils and boudin, in addition to a cocktail menu that features favorites such as whiskey, experiential group drinks and classic drinks.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 7 May 2024
Gibbard regularly dipped to his knees and gestured to fans across the seven-minute opus, the climactic instrumental bridge building to a boil ever so slowly.
—Piet Levy, Journal Sentinel, 7 May 2024
Adjust heat as necessary to maintain a steady boil.
—Bhg Test Kitchen, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 May 2024
Bring to a boil and simmer until the quinoa grains release their white tail (germ), 12 to 14 minutes.
—Lynda Balslev, The Mercury News, 6 May 2024
Bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 2 to 3 hours, or until the beans are tender.
—Jackie Burrell, The Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2024
The simmering conflict came to a boil this past winter.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2024
Add cooked chicken and sauce to vegetables and bring to a boil.
—Bethany Thayer, Detroit Free Press, 20 Apr. 2024
Verb
Process jars in a boiling-water canner for 5 minutes (start timing when the water returns to boil).
—Bhg Test Kitchen, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 May 2024
Don’t forget to pack a small gas canister or portable stove, which are absolutely essential for boiling water — and most importantly, making coffee.
—Kelsey Glennon, Travel + Leisure, 3 May 2024
Everything from Mexican pop to European experimentalism was strained, boiled, compressed and stretched into addictive instrumental taffy.
—Mark Swed, Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2024
Old recipes often called for boiling the chicken for upward of an hour, which might have been a good advice for tough old yard birds, but can turn the meat into ropey strands.
—Sheri Castle, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 May 2024
That cushion may not be wide enough given the manifold threats menacing the U.S. economy (elevated commodity prices, sticky inflation, the unbridled rise of federal debt, boiling tensions in the Middle East and Asia, to name a few).
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 7 May 2024
Ayahuasca is a psychedelic liquid made from heating or boiling multiple psychoactive plants from South America, according to the Alcohol and Drug Foundation of Australia.
—Nathan Hart, The Enquirer, 7 May 2024
Cook and stir over medium-high heat until mixture boils.
—Bhg Test Kitchen, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 May 2024
Cosori Electric Kettle Buy on Amazon Tea-drinking grandmothers will love this efficient and easy-to-use electric kettle that boils water in no time for a tasty brew whenever the craving strikes.
—Lizzy Briskin, Peoplemag, 3 May 2024
Noun
Bell Bottoms Up will have a menu boasting some of the Louisiana native’s favorite salads, as well as crawfish, shrimp boils, and boudin.
—Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 9 May 2024
The menu will include Wilson’s favorite salads, as well as crawfish, shrimp boils and boudin, in addition to a cocktail menu that features favorites such as whiskey, experiential group drinks and classic drinks.
—Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 7 May 2024
Gibbard regularly dipped to his knees and gestured to fans across the seven-minute opus, the climactic instrumental bridge building to a boil ever so slowly.
—Piet Levy, Journal Sentinel, 7 May 2024
Adjust heat as necessary to maintain a steady boil.
—Bhg Test Kitchen, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 May 2024
Bring to a boil and simmer until the quinoa grains release their white tail (germ), 12 to 14 minutes.
—Lynda Balslev, The Mercury News, 6 May 2024
Bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 2 to 3 hours, or until the beans are tender.
—Jackie Burrell, The Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2024
The simmering conflict came to a boil this past winter.
—Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2024
Add cooked chicken and sauce to vegetables and bring to a boil.
—Bethany Thayer, Detroit Free Press, 20 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'boil.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Boil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boil. Accessed 12 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
boil
1 of 3 noun
: a painful swollen inflamed area of the skin resulting from infection compare carbuncle sense 2
boil
2 of 3 verb1
a
: to produce bubbles of vapor when heated
the water is boiling
b
: to come or bring to the boiling point
the coffee boiled
2
: to churn violently as if boiling
boiling floodwaters
3
: to be excited or stirred up
boil with anger
4
: to go through or cause to go through the action of a boiling liquid
boil eggs
boil
3 of 3 noun
: the act or state of boiling
bring to a boil
Etymology
Noun
an altered form of Middle English bile "a boil," from Old English bȳl (same meaning)
Verb
Middle English boilen "to boil," from early French boillir, derived from Latin bulla "a bubble" — related to bill entry 3, bowl entry 2
Medical Definition
boil
noun
: a localized swelling and inflammation of the skin resulting from usually bacterial infection of a hair follicle and adjacent tissue, having a hard central core, and forming pus
called also furuncle
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