boil down

verb

boiled down; boiling down; boils down

transitive verb

1
: to reduce in bulk by boiling
2
: condense, summarize
boil down a report

intransitive verb

1
: to undergo reduction in bulk by boiling
2
a
: to be equivalent in summary : amount
his speech boiled down to a plea for more money
b
: to reduce ultimately
your choices boil down to three

Examples of boil down in a Sentence

the discussion of the problem can be boiled down to a couple of critical points
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.
Village Manager Napoleon Haney said the board’s decision boiled down to the ability to generate the funding necessary to make improvements, not only on the space that Rabid intended to use, but the remaining parts of the plaza, at 183rd Street and Robin Lane, including the parking lot. Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025 Gallagher said the issue of having trans athletes in girls’ sports boiled down to fairness. Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 9 July 2025 Details of the talks remain scarce, but the Wall Street Journal, quoting an unnamed EU diplomat, reported that EU Commission officials have told member states options boil down to accepting an agreement that heavily favors the U.S. or rejecting a deal and facing more unpredictability. Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 8 July 2025 The facts of the two cases are different but boil down to similar concepts, Kempf said. Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 7 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for boil down

Word History

First Known Use

1723, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of boil down was in 1723

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Boil down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boil%20down. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

boil down

verb
: to reduce or become reduced by or as if by boiling
let the sauce boil down
boil down a report
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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