grill

1 of 2

verb

grilled; grilling; grills
Synonyms of grillnext

transitive verb

1
: to broil on a grill
also : to fry or toast on a griddle
2
a
: to torment as if by broiling
b
: to question intensely
the police grilled the suspect
griller noun

grill

2 of 2

noun

1
: a cooking utensil of parallel bars on which food is exposed to heat (as from charcoal or electricity)
2
: food that is broiled usually on a grill compare mixed grill
3
: a usually informal restaurant or dining room

Examples of grill in a Sentence

Verb We're planning to grill some chicken and burgers at the cookout. Her parents grilled her when she came home late. Noun She put the hamburgers on the grill. headed down to the local bar and grill for a beer and a burger
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Most often, chicken breasts are baked, grilled, or sautéed—or, nowadays, air-fried—with as little oil or butter as possible. Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 May 2026 Community members gathered Tuesday to grill food for residents affected by the prolonged outage. Nakell Williams, CBS News, 13 May 2026
Noun
Over time, dust on the grills can block airflow, reducing the fan's effectiveness. Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 14 May 2026 The hot plate → Experts reveal why one fan-favorite fish isn't suited for the grill. Staff, FOXNews.com, 14 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for grill

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French gril, from Old French greil, from Latin craticulum — more at griddle entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1672, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1685, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of grill was in 1672

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grill. Accessed 15 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

grill

1 of 2 verb
1
: to broil on a grill
2
a
: to torment as if by broiling
b
: to question with repeated questions

grill

2 of 2 noun
1
: a grate on which food is broiled
2
: broiled food
3
: a restaurant that serves broiled foods

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