simmer

1 of 2

verb

sim·​mer ˈsi-mər 

simmered; simmering ˈsi-mə-riŋ 

ˈsim-riŋ

intransitive verb

1

: to stew gently below or just at the boiling point

2

a

: to be in a state of incipient development : ferment

ideas simmering in the back of my mind

b

: to be in inward turmoil : seethe

transitive verb

: to cook slowly in a liquid just below the boiling point

simmer

2 of 2

noun

: the state of simmering

Synonyms of simmer

Verb

• boil

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

Verb

Where does all this fútbol fanaticism (some newfound, some long-simmering) go? — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 21 July 2026

Over the past week, the conflict between the United States and Iran has gone from a simmering tit-for-tat to something that much more resembles all-out war. — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 20 July 2026

Noun

To make the most of your time, bake a batch of cornbread while the gumbo simmers. — Emily Goldman, Martha Stewart, 20 July 2026

Bring to a boil over medium-high; reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened and vegetables are tender, 15 to 20 minutes. — Marianne Williams, Southern Living, 18 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

alteration of English dialect simper, from Middle English simperen, of imitative origin

First Known Use

Verb

1637, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1758, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing simmer

• simmer down

Rhymes for simmer

• brimmer
• dimmer
• glimmer
• grimmer
• nimmer
• rimmer
• shimmer
• skimmer
• slimmer
• swimmer
• timmer
• trimmer

Kids Definition

simmer

verb

sim·​mer

ˈsim-ər

simmered; simmering

-(ə-)riŋ

: to stew gently below or just at the boiling point

simmer noun