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
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
Matt Alderton, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
They were created to store the sap collected from nearby maple trees and boil that down to create maple syrup.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 28 Oct. 2025
Make a simple brine of salt, sugar, vinegar and water, bring it to a boil and pour over the onions in a clean glass jar.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for boil
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Verb
There’s the ubiquitous sloshing of bright red hurricanes in curvaceous cocktail glasses, the sizzling of beignets in fryers and the bubbling of boiling crawfish on stovetops.
—Matt Alderton, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
They were created to store the sap collected from nearby maple trees and boil that down to create maple syrup.
—Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
Bring stock or broth to a boil in a 5-quart saucepan; stir in rice and cook, covered, at a gentle simmer, for about 15 minutes until the rice is tender.
—Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 28 Oct. 2025
Make a simple brine of salt, sugar, vinegar and water, bring it to a boil and pour over the onions in a clean glass jar.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, Denver Post, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for boil
Cite this Entry
“Boil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boil. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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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