billow

1 of 2

noun

bil·​low ˈbi-(ˌ)lō How to pronounce billow (audio)
1
: wave
especially : a great wave or surge of water
the rolling billows of the sea
2
: a rolling mass (as of flame or smoke) that resembles a high wave
Billows of smoke poured out of the building.
billows of fog
billowy adjective

billow

2 of 2

verb

billowed; billowing; billows

intransitive verb

1
: to rise or roll in waves or surges
the billowing sea
2
: to bulge or swell out (as through action of the wind)
billowing clouds
… the flags … billowed out in pride …G. B. Oxnam

transitive verb

: to cause to billow
a field of burning grass billowing thick black clouds of smoke into the skyDonald Windham

Examples of billow in a Sentence

Noun Billows of smoke poured out of the burning building. the rolling billows of the sea Verb the curtains in the open windows billowed in the summer wind
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The next part of the footage shows the deputy several hundred feet away from the scene as smoke billows into the sky. Abigail Adams, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024 Smoke billows following Israeli bombardment of Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, on Monday. Raf Sanchez, NBC News, 26 Feb. 2024 Among those treated for injuries are at least six firefighters, Valencia’s Emergency Services said on social platform X. Footage from the scene shows the entire complex ablaze as flames tear through apartments and thick smoke billows overhead. Atika Shubert, CNN, 23 Feb. 2024 For moviegoers, though, that’s a long time to watch a pillar of fire billow toward the sky without matching sound. Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2024 Her exquisite pink-ombré silk organza skirt partners with her movement and billows with tiers of flounce. Fawnia Soo Hoo, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Feb. 2024 Smoke billows from buildings in Rafah during the early morning following strikes overnight. NBC News, 12 Feb. 2024 Smoke billows during Israeli bombardment over Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on February 12, 2024. Helen Regan, CNN, 12 Feb. 2024 All of the shades blend, billow and balloon upward in a watercolor dreamscape, and a handful of planes fly through, the scene suddenly transposed onto the young Jiro’s awed face. Maya Phillips, New York Times, 8 Dec. 2023
Verb
Video footage from the Crocus City Hall showed the vast complex, which is home to both a music hall and shopping center, on fire with smoke billowing into the air. Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024 Photos and videos posted online showed fire and smoke billowing from the plant, and the local authorities said that the road across the dam had been closed. Ivan Nechepurenko, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024 The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office rescued three people stranded in heavy snow this week after a weekend blizzard unleashed more than 10 feet of snow in the High Sierra amid billowing gusts topping 100 mph. Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2024 By Marc Hogan Almost one-third of the way through Usher’s performance at this year’s Super Bowl halftime show, Alicia Keys appeared, attached to a billowing red cape and seated at a matching piano. Marc Hogan, The Atlantic, 1 Mar. 2024 The billowing shirts had shades of Mapplethorpe’s famous muse Patti Smith on her Horses album cover. José Criales-Unzueta, Vogue, 12 Feb. 2024 Another man groaned next to him, hidden by smoke billowing around the cars. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 9 Feb. 2024 Again, Ford continued to drive the bus with smoke billowing past his face. Sarah Rumpf-Whitten, Fox News, 7 Mar. 2024 The picture featured Apfel in a billowing black dress with glittering gold details, a large statement collar, and a pair of her signature round glasses. Glamour, 2 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'billow.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Old Norse bylgja; akin to Old High German balg bag — more at belly

First Known Use

Noun

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1592, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of billow was in 1552

Dictionary Entries Near billow

Cite this Entry

“Billow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/billow. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

billow

1 of 2 noun
bil·​low ˈbil-ō How to pronounce billow (audio)
1
: wave entry 2 sense 1
especially : a large wave
2
: a rolling mass like a high wave
billows of smoke

billow

2 of 2 verb
1
: to rise or roll in waves
the billowing ocean
2
: to bulge or swell out
sails billowing in the breeze

More from Merriam-Webster on billow

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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