sill

noun

1
: a horizontal piece (such as a timber) that forms the lowest member or one of the lowest members of a framework or supporting structure: such as
a
: the horizontal member at the base of a window
b
: the threshold of a door
2
: a tabular body of igneous rock injected while molten between sedimentary or volcanic beds or along foliation planes of metamorphic rocks
3
: a submerged ridge at relatively shallow depth separating the basins of two bodies of water

Examples of sill in a Sentence

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.
Place them on bookshelves, window sills, mantels, and even in your fireplace to create a unique focal point in a room. Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Oct. 2025 Use the wand to reach window sills and curtains, and opt for the pet multi-tool to lift pet hair from stairs and upholstered furniture. Isabel Garcia, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025 Dust the sills and tops of sashes. Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025 The roof was tile and so were the window sills. Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for sill

Word History

Etymology

Middle English sille, from Old English syll; akin to Old High German swelli beam, threshold

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sill was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sill. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

sill

noun
1
: a horizontal piece (as a timber) that forms the lowest part of a supporting structure: as
a
: the horizontal piece at the base of a window
b
: the timber or stone at the foot of a door : threshold
2
: a flat mass of igneous rock injected while melted between other rocks

More from Merriam-Webster on sill

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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