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
Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026 The Best Andouille Sausage Recipe Ideas Brekke tells us that the most traditional uses for Cajun andouille include jambalaya, gumbo, low-country shrimp boil, and red beans and rice. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Apr. 2026
Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026 Another Shell Shack location is launching in Arlington soon, with a crawfish boil deal. —Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for boil
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
When asked why some of the most successful people on Earth would willingly subject themselves to the harsh conditions seen in the show’s promos — such as eating snakes or boiling water to avoid illness — Grylls said, for these stars, the appeal is about authenticity. —Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026 The Best Andouille Sausage Recipe Ideas Brekke tells us that the most traditional uses for Cajun andouille include jambalaya, gumbo, low-country shrimp boil, and red beans and rice. —Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
Bring water to a simmer, not a rolling boil. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026 Another Shell Shack location is launching in Arlington soon, with a crawfish boil deal. —Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 21 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for boil
Cite this Entry
“Boil.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/boil. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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 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
: 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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Merriam-Webster unabridged
