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

Instead, Yang said the factors determining Beijing’s timeline to take over Taiwan boil down to China’s domestic economic situation, the People’s Liberation Army’s capabilities, Taiwan’s domestic political situation, as well as Washington’s policy toward Taiwan and China. —Steven Jiang, CNN Money, 6 Jan. 2026

Drinks In the drinks department, blueberries are excellent for freezing into ice cubes, infusing into water or tea, or boiling down into a simple syrup, says Hall. —Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 31 Dec. 2025

The fight for psychic children and access to the Upside Down and Dimension X can be boiled down to an arms race, of sorts. —Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 25 Dec. 2025

In many ways, the backlash boils down to a trust problem. —Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 16 Dec. 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