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
Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
In the portrait, taken in the last few weeks, black smoke billows behind her as her fuchsia headscarf billows in the wind behind her.
—Charlene Gubash, NBC news, 24 Mar. 2026
Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2026
Within five minutes, smoke began billowing above the boxes and within another 10 minutes the entire lobby was engulfed in flames, prosecutors say.
—Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for billow
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Noun
Video footage of the crash's aftermath obtained by NBC shows the vehicle significantly engulfed in orange flames emitting billows of black smoke.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
In the portrait, taken in the last few weeks, black smoke billows behind her as her fuchsia headscarf billows in the wind behind her.
—Charlene Gubash, NBC news, 24 Mar. 2026
Verb
The scene mirrored the energy of a film set, all drama and specific lighting and smoke billowing from mysterious corners, honoring the house’s relationship with cinema.
—Julissa James, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2026
Within five minutes, smoke began billowing above the boxes and within another 10 minutes the entire lobby was engulfed in flames, prosecutors say.
—Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 14 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for billow
Cite this Entry
“Billow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/billow. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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
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