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

Kirby’s frustration largely boils down to one thing: the FAA’s 2016 decision to remove slot controls at Newark — the scheduling mechanism that limits how many flights can take off or land each hour. —Shannon Carroll, Quartz, 9 May 2025

Motivation to lead boils down to two factors: The need to achieve (e.g., prestige) – Some people are motivated by the chance to make an impact, improve the world, push for progress. —London Business School, Forbes.com, 6 May 2025

The core gameplay loop boils down to creeping through buildings, killing CPU enemies, and hopefully avoiding getting shot in the back of the head by another team long enough to escape with the payload intact to add to your overall inventory for the next go around. —Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2025

And so the path forward boils down to mitigating risk, which is sad and frustrating. —Lawrence Cappello, Time, 2 May 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