grill

1 of 4

verb

ˈgril 

grilled; grilling; grills

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 4

noun (1)

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

grill

3 of 4

noun (2)

variant spelling of grille

1

: a grating forming a barrier or screen

especially : an ornamental one at the front end of an automobile

2

: an opening covered with a grille

3

usually grill : a set of metallic covers for the teeth

griller

4 of 4

noun (3)

grill·​er

ˈgrilə(r)

plural -s

: one that grills

usually : a device for broiling : grill entry 2

Synonyms of grill

Verb

• interrogate
• question
• examine
• pump

Noun (1)

• restaurant
• diner

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 (1)

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

Verb

Indiana legislators are getting a chance to grill a NIPSCO representative about the response to the August 11th derecho. — Lauren Victory, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026

Nick Digrindakis of Naperville was grilling meat at the fest and, like many others helping out at the festival, has a long history with the church. — David Sharos, Chicago Tribune, 28 Sep. 2026

Noun

Cook quickly in a large cast-iron skillet, on a flat-top plancha, or on a grill, primarily on one side while leaving the wax paper on the opposite side. — ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026

Save room on Monday, Wednesday or Friday for the chef’s table at Sokasi, a small wooden eight-seat outpost where traditional Balinese feasts are cooked right in front of you on a grill. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

and Noun (3)

First Known Use

Verb

1672, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (1)

1685, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing grill

• mixed grill

Rhymes for grill

• bill
• brill
• chill
• drill
• fil
• fill
• frill
• gill
• grille
• jill
• kill
• krill

Kids Definition

grill

1 of 2 verb

ˈgril 

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