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
billowed; billowing; billows
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
G. B. Oxnam
: to cause to billow
a field of burning grass billowing thick black clouds of smoke into the sky—Donald Windham
Donald WindhamExamples 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
Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2025
Smoke billows today from Israeli strikes west of Gaza City.
—NBC News, 18 Mar. 2025
Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 May 2025
Shields then fires multiple times as the pickup revs one more time, with smoke billowing out of the vehicle.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for billow
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.
Noun
Steam billows from big silver pots on the stove and the fire from three Gozney ovens warms the room.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2025
Smoke billows today from Israeli strikes west of Gaza City.
—NBC News, 18 Mar. 2025
Verb
Videos posted to social media show thick black smoke billowing from the structure as emergency responders worked to contain the blaze.
—Gabe Whisnant, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 May 2025
Shields then fires multiple times as the pickup revs one more time, with smoke billowing out of the vehicle.
—Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for billow
Cite this Entry
“Billow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/billow. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
billow
1 of 2 noun
bil·low
ˈbil-ō 
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 verb1
: to rise or roll in waves
the billowing ocean
2
: to bulge or swell out
sails billowing in the breeze
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share