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 WindhamSynonyms
Examples 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 WebMartin Weil, Washington Post, 21 July 2024
In this 1921 image provided by the Library of Congress, smoke billows over Tulsa, Okla., during the Tulsa Race Massacre, one of the worst single acts of violence against Black people in U.S. history.
—CBS News, 15 July 2024
Sophie Tanno, CNN, 17 July 2024
Sofía opted for a billowing white blouse with three-quarter-length sleeves by Ba&sh.
—Julia Teti, WWD, 10 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for billow 
Noun
The sensation was enhanced by the thick gray clouds that lumbered across the sky, dark billows that seemed destined to unleash great torrents, but in many places, at least, never quite did.
—Martin Weil, Washington Post, 21 July 2024
In this 1921 image provided by the Library of Congress, smoke billows over Tulsa, Okla., during the Tulsa Race Massacre, one of the worst single acts of violence against Black people in U.S. history.
—CBS News, 15 July 2024
Verb
Dramatic images showed a huge column of black smoke billowing from the 14-story building.
—Sophie Tanno, CNN, 17 July 2024
Sofía opted for a billowing white blouse with three-quarter-length sleeves by Ba&sh.
—Julia Teti, WWD, 10 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for billow
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'billow.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near billow
Cite this Entry
“Billow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/billow. Accessed 26 Jul. 2024.
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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