boil down

verb

boiled down; boiling down; boils down

transitive verb

1

: to reduce in bulk by boiling

2

: condense, summarize

boil down a report

intransitive verb

1

: to undergo reduction in bulk by boiling

2

a

: to be equivalent in summary : amount

his speech boiled down to a plea for more money

b

: to reduce ultimately

your choices boil down to three

Synonyms

• abstract
• brief
• digest
• encapsulate
• epitomize
• outline
• recap
• recapitulate
• reprise
• sum up
• summarize
• synopsize
• wrap up

Examples of boil down in a Sentence

the discussion of the problem can be boiled down to a couple of critical points

Recent Examples on the Web

What makes Gauff more marketable boils down to charisma, capability, character, and country. —Merlisa Lawrence Corbett, Forbes.com, 6 June 2025

But, in true Nintendo fashion, creating a sequel to a classic gaming staple doesn’t just boil down to adding more. —Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 3 June 2025

The fear from within always boiled down to the challenge of trading Marner and coming out a better team. —Jonas Siegel, New York Times, 19 May 2025

That average boils down to a cost of about $284 per guest. —Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 29 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1723, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for boil down

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown

Kids Definition

boil down

verb

: to reduce or become reduced by or as if by boiling

let the sauce boil down

boil down a report