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
Maryal Miller Carter, USA Today, 14 Feb. 2026
Armenia and Azerbaijan turned to Trump to resolve a simmering dispute over a transportation corridor.
—Alan Cullison, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 15 Feb. 2026
Bell peppers, onions, celery, and Creole mustard simmer with the spicy ingredients.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for simmer
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Verb
Set your slow cooker to the low heat setting and let the chili simmer for about 4-6 hours or until the meat is cooked and the flavors have melded together.
—Maryal Miller Carter, USA Today, 14 Feb. 2026
Armenia and Azerbaijan turned to Trump to resolve a simmering dispute over a transportation corridor.
—Alan Cullison, The Atlantic, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
In the fluorescent glare of a rundown Indonesian wig factory, vats of human hair simmer in huge cauldrons, stirred by hunched laborers as rows of mannequin heads watch blankly from the dark.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 15 Feb. 2026
Bell peppers, onions, celery, and Creole mustard simmer with the spicy ingredients.
—Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 15 Feb. 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 21 Feb. 2026.
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