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

• 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

The three dominant options boiled down to Gyokeres, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, and Ollie Watkins of Aston Villa. —Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 25 July 2025

Lauren Riley, the chief sustainability officer at United, boiled down the business case for climate work in the simple terms of one of the company’s biggest costs: fuel. —Justin Worland, Time, 25 July 2025

As recently reported by EW, Damon's departure boiled down to scheduling conflicts. —Randall Colburn, EW.com, 22 July 2025

The deal boils down to a policy choice, with the city sacrificing immediate profits in favor of residential units for low-income families. —Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 July 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