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

In typical provincial fashion, these four days of festivities include crafts, great food, bluegrass music, and an opportunity to visit sugar camps, where sap is boiled down into delightfully rich syrup. —Jennifer Prince, Southern Living, 7 Mar. 2026

The event boiled down to Trump imploring members of Congress to pass the SCORE Act, or legislation based on it. —ABC News, 6 Mar. 2026

Couples break up for an infinite number of reasons, few of which boil down to one partner’s irredeemable rottenness. —Judy Berman, Time, 6 Mar. 2026

The Global Impact of 'Sesame Street' With all due respect to the Count, Sesame Street's impact cannot only be boiled down to a bunch of numbers. —Beth Ann Mayer, Parents, 3 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