boil

1 of 3

verb

ˈbȯi(-ə)l How to pronounce boil (audio)
boiled; boiling; boils
Synonyms of boilnext

intransitive verb

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

transitive verb

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
boilable
ˈbȯi-lə-bəl How to pronounce boil (audio)
adjective

boil

2 of 3

noun (1)

: 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

boil

3 of 3

noun (2)

1
: the act or state of boiling
2
: a swirling upheaval (as of water)
3
: a boiled dish of seafood, vegetables, and seasonings
a crab boil
also : a gathering at which this dish is served

Synonyms

Verb

Noun (1)

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
The big picture: Tracing it through history can explain why our underlying tensions still boil. — Meira Gebel, Axios, 28 Feb. 2025 The electric kettle boiled water, the television worked, and a game console could be used, all without a gas-guzzling generator. — Scott Peterson, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Feb. 2025
Noun
Bring this to a boil, add a lid, and allow the mixture to simmer for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the apples and squash are soft. — Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Mar. 2025 Whisk in the stock, increase the heat and bring to a boil and cook until the stock has reduced by half. 5: Whisk in the chunks of cream cheese, then fold in the turkey, peas, parsley and half of the cheese and half of the peppers. — Tribune News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for boil

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French buillir, boillir, from Latin bullire to bubble, from bulla bubble

Noun (1)

Middle English, alteration of bile, from Old English bȳl; akin to Old High German pūlla bladder

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of boil was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing boil

Rhymes for boil

See All Rhymes for boil

Browse Nearby Words

boil
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Cite this Entry

“Boil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boil. Accessed 11 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

boil

1 of 3 noun
ˈbȯi(ə)l How to pronounce boil (audio)
: a painful swollen inflamed area of the skin resulting from infection compare carbuncle sense 2

boil

2 of 3 verb
1
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
ˈbȯi(ə)l How to pronounce boil (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on boil

Nglish: Translation of boil for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about boil

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