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 of boil down

• summarize
• outline

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

Much of the time, that difference boils down to whether or not the musician is a good hang. —Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 19 Mar. 2026

It’s taught the way past generations read ‘Of Mice and Men,’ that great literature can’t be boiled down to a single lesson. —Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026

Much of the bilateral maneuvering boils down to timing. —Jasmin Malik Chua, Sourcing Journal, 18 Mar. 2026

The answer boils down to how the spinning dead star dragged space and time in its wake. —Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 11 Mar. 2026

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