sizzle

1 of 2

verb

siz·​zle ˈsi-zəl 

sizzled; sizzling ˈsi-zə-liŋ 

ˈsiz-liŋ

transitive verb

: to burn up or sear with or as if with a hissing sound

intransitive verb

1

: to make a hissing sound in or as if in burning or frying

2

: to seethe with deep anger or resentment

sizzle

2 of 2

noun

1

: a hissing sound (as of something frying over a fire)

2

: pizzazz, excitement

Synonyms of sizzle

Verb

• hiss

Noun

• whistle
• fizz
• zip
• hiss

Examples of sizzle in a Sentence

Verb

bacon sizzling in the pan

Their romance sizzled throughout the whole summer.

The book sizzles with excitement.

Noun

there was a brief sizzle as the moth flew into the flame

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Then, a slow-moving heat dome sizzled the East in early July, toppling records. — Ben Noll, Washington Post, 24 July 2026

Transfer to the middle rack of the oven and bake until the tomatoes begin to burst and the gnocchi start to sizzle, about 15 minutes. — Kate Williams, AJC.com, 20 July 2026

Noun

At another kettle grill, thicker skirt steaks sizzle over the coals before receiving a dicing for the arrachera tacos. — Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 25 July 2026

Embodied by the O’Jays, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, Lou Rawls, and others, it was grown-up and plush, but still grooving—the seedbed for the sizzle of disco, with an emphasis on Black pride. — Rhoda Feng, New Yorker, 24 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

perhaps frequentative of siss to hiss

First Known Use

Verb

1603, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun

circa 1823, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing sizzle

• sizzle reel

Rhymes for sizzle

• chisel
• drizzle
• fizzle
• grizzle

Kids Definition

sizzle

verb

siz·​zle

ˈsiz-əl

sizzled; sizzling

-(ə-)liŋ

: to make a hissing sound in or as if in burning or frying

sizzle noun

sizzler

-(ə-)lər

noun