simmered; simmering
ˈsi-mə-riŋ 
ˈsim-riŋ
1
: to stew gently below or just at the boiling point
: to cook slowly in a liquid just below the boiling point
Examples of simmer in a Sentence
Verb
Simmer the stew for 40 minutes or until the sauce has thickened.
The chicken was simmered in a cream sauce.
The dispute simmered for years before any progress was made.
It's a debate that has simmered for 30 years and is likely to continue.
Long-simmering tensions between the two groups eventually sparked violence.
Noun
Bring the mixture to a simmer.
Recent Examples on the Web
Hunter Woodall, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
Scores of foreign nationals who traveled to a remote Indian Ocean island seeking adventure have become stranded there as simmering tensions between warring Yemeni parties and their backers disrupt travel.
—Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 6 Jan. 2026
This rosy cider simmers for just 10 minutes, making a great choice for drop-in visitors or last-minute parties.
—Midwest Living, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for simmer
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Verb
Walz's decision to leave the race comes amid intense scrutiny over long-simmering fraud problems in Minnesota, with more revelations and indictments expected.
—Hunter Woodall, CBS News, 5 Jan. 2026
Scores of foreign nationals who traveled to a remote Indian Ocean island seeking adventure have become stranded there as simmering tensions between warring Yemeni parties and their backers disrupt travel.
—Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 5 Jan. 2026
Noun
Cover, leaving the lid ajar 1-inch, then reduce the heat to medium and simmer until the potatoes are tender, 10 to 12 minutes, stirring occasionally.
—Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 6 Jan. 2026
This rosy cider simmers for just 10 minutes, making a great choice for drop-in visitors or last-minute parties.
—Midwest Living, 5 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for simmer
Cite this Entry
“Simmer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/simmer. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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