simmered; simmering
ˈsi-mə-riŋ 
ˈsim-riŋ
1
: to stew gently below or just at the boiling point
: to cook slowly in a liquid just below the boiling point
Examples of simmer in a Sentence
Verb
Simmer the stew for 40 minutes or until the sauce has thickened.
The chicken was simmered in a cream sauce.
The dispute simmered for years before any progress was made.
It's a debate that has simmered for 30 years and is likely to continue.
Long-simmering tensions between the two groups eventually sparked violence.
Noun
Bring the mixture to a simmer.
Recent Examples on the Web
Travis Loller, Arkansas Online, 20 June 2026
Using an air purifier or simmering potpourri on the stove can also help with lingering smells.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 20 June 2026
Monti Carlo, AJC.com, 22 June 2026
A lot of the show has a low-to-medium simmer that feels appropriate for an firebrand of 85 whose pilot light is going strong but who isn’t worried about acting like a 30-year-old rocker, either.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for simmer
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Verb
The fatal shooting of a 1-year-old boy by police who were responding to a shoplifting call this past weekend has ignited simmering tensions between police and Black residents in the small town of Senatobia, Miss.
—Travis Loller, Arkansas Online, 20 June 2026
Using an air purifier or simmering potpourri on the stove can also help with lingering smells.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 20 June 2026
Noun
Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat.
—Monti Carlo, AJC.com, 22 June 2026
A lot of the show has a low-to-medium simmer that feels appropriate for an firebrand of 85 whose pilot light is going strong but who isn’t worried about acting like a 30-year-old rocker, either.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 21 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for simmer
Cite this Entry
“Simmer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/simmer. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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