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 WebAlexander Smith, NBC News, 7 Apr. 2024
Smoke billows over Khan Younis in southern Gaza during Israeli bombardment on Tuesday.
—Chantal Da Silva, NBC News, 17 Jan. 2024
The next part of the footage shows the deputy several hundred feet away from the scene as smoke billows into the sky.
—Abigail Adams, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024
Smoke billows following Israeli bombardment of Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, on Monday.
—Raf Sanchez, NBC News, 26 Feb. 2024
Among those treated for injuries are at least six firefighters, Valencia’s Emergency Services said on social platform X.
Footage from the scene shows the entire complex ablaze as flames tear through apartments and thick smoke billows overhead.
—Atika Shubert, CNN, 23 Feb. 2024
For moviegoers, though, that’s a long time to watch a pillar of fire billow toward the sky without matching sound.
—Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2024
Her exquisite pink-ombré silk organza skirt partners with her movement and billows with tiers of flounce.
—Fawnia Soo Hoo, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Feb. 2024
Smoke billows from buildings in Rafah during the early morning following strikes overnight.
—NBC News, 12 Feb. 2024
Vogue, 2 Apr. 2024
Video footage from the site of the attack, the Crocus City Hall concert venue, shows the vast complex, which is home to both the music hall and a shopping center, on fire with smoke billowing into the air.
—Mariya Knight, Anna Chernova and Darya Tarasova, CNN, 22 Mar. 2024
Live video of thick, black smoke billowing out from the prison was broadcast on national television.
—Fredlyn Pierre Louis, NBC News, 14 Mar. 2024
The fire sent clouds of black smoke billowing skyward that could be seen from afar.
—TIME, 23 Feb. 2024
Smoke billowing from the Moore’s Riverboat Restaurant and Marina and its docks could be seen five miles away as firefighters with the River Delta Fire District and Isleton Fire Department arrived on July 6, 2022.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 9 Feb. 2024
Video footage from the Crocus City Hall showed the vast complex, which is home to both a music hall and shopping center, on fire with smoke billowing into the air.
—Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024
Photos and videos posted online showed fire and smoke billowing from the plant, and the local authorities said that the road across the dam had been closed.
—Ivan Nechepurenko, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024
The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office rescued three people stranded in heavy snow this week after a weekend blizzard unleashed more than 10 feet of snow in the High Sierra amid billowing gusts topping 100 mph.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2024
Noun
Smoke billows over Gaza following an Israeli airstrike in October.
—Alexander Smith, NBC News, 7 Apr. 2024
Smoke billows over Khan Younis in southern Gaza during Israeli bombardment on Tuesday.
—Chantal Da Silva, NBC News, 17 Jan. 2024
The next part of the footage shows the deputy several hundred feet away from the scene as smoke billows into the sky.
—Abigail Adams, Peoplemag, 1 Mar. 2024
Smoke billows following Israeli bombardment of Khan Younis, in southern Gaza, on Monday.
—Raf Sanchez, NBC News, 26 Feb. 2024
Among those treated for injuries are at least six firefighters, Valencia’s Emergency Services said on social platform X.
Footage from the scene shows the entire complex ablaze as flames tear through apartments and thick smoke billows overhead.
—Atika Shubert, CNN, 23 Feb. 2024
For moviegoers, though, that’s a long time to watch a pillar of fire billow toward the sky without matching sound.
—Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2024
Her exquisite pink-ombré silk organza skirt partners with her movement and billows with tiers of flounce.
—Fawnia Soo Hoo, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Feb. 2024
Smoke billows from buildings in Rafah during the early morning following strikes overnight.
—NBC News, 12 Feb. 2024
Verb
There’s a Hollywood Regency-esque robe that looks straight out of the wardrobe of Norma Desmond, alongside a billowing sheer top styled with jeans.
—Vogue, 2 Apr. 2024
Video footage from the site of the attack, the Crocus City Hall concert venue, shows the vast complex, which is home to both the music hall and a shopping center, on fire with smoke billowing into the air.
—Mariya Knight, Anna Chernova and Darya Tarasova, CNN, 22 Mar. 2024
Live video of thick, black smoke billowing out from the prison was broadcast on national television.
—Fredlyn Pierre Louis, NBC News, 14 Mar. 2024
The fire sent clouds of black smoke billowing skyward that could be seen from afar.
—TIME, 23 Feb. 2024
Smoke billowing from the Moore’s Riverboat Restaurant and Marina and its docks could be seen five miles away as firefighters with the River Delta Fire District and Isleton Fire Department arrived on July 6, 2022.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 9 Feb. 2024
Video footage from the Crocus City Hall showed the vast complex, which is home to both a music hall and shopping center, on fire with smoke billowing into the air.
—Lauren Said-Moorhouse, CNN, 23 Mar. 2024
Photos and videos posted online showed fire and smoke billowing from the plant, and the local authorities said that the road across the dam had been closed.
—Ivan Nechepurenko, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024
The Nevada County Sheriff’s Office rescued three people stranded in heavy snow this week after a weekend blizzard unleashed more than 10 feet of snow in the High Sierra amid billowing gusts topping 100 mph.
—Ishani Desai, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2024
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 19 Apr. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share