grill

1 of 3

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 3

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 3

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

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

At NoriFish, it gets grilled or torched until the skin turns crisp and charred while the interior stays buttery. — Angela Hansberger, AJC.com, 9 Oct. 2026

Talarico’s opponent in the Senate race, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, has grilled the Democrat about his disappearance on social media in recent days. — Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 8 Oct. 2026

Noun

At Helen, also downtown in a 1920s-era building, chef Rob McDaniel serves a menu almost entirely cooked over a grill that's inspired by his grandmother's open-fire cooking. — Leslie Pariseau, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Oct. 2026

Prepare a grill for 2-zone cooking and aim for Warp 10 on the direct heat side. — Candy Hom, AJC.com, 10 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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 (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