simmer

1 of 2

verb

sim·​mer ˈsi-mər 

simmered; simmering ˈsi-mə-riŋ 

ˈsim-riŋ

intransitive verb

1

: to stew gently below or just at the boiling point

2

a

: to be in a state of incipient development : ferment

ideas simmering in the back of my mind

b

: to be in inward turmoil : seethe

transitive verb

: to cook slowly in a liquid just below the boiling point

simmer

2 of 2

noun

: the state of simmering

Synonyms of simmer

Verb

• boil

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

Verb

The well-rounded vessel is ideal for batch cooking bolognese sauce, slow cooking roasts, frying chicken without splattering oil all over the stovetop, and simmering one-pot meals for a crowd (of up to seven people, according to the brand). — Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 13 July 2026

Even simmering tomatoes in olive oil for a few minutes to make a quick pasta sauce increases the amount of lycopene your body can absorb. — Lynn Andriani, Martha Stewart, 13 July 2026

Noun

Fill a medium saucepan halfway with water and bring it to a gentle simmer over medium heat. — Monti Carlo, AJC.com, 10 July 2026

Think of this effect as a slow simmer that builds with each exposure to the sun, rather than a single isolated event. — Leslie Baumann, Miami Herald, 9 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

alteration of English dialect simper, from Middle English simperen, of imitative origin

First Known Use

Verb

1637, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1758, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing simmer

• simmer down

Rhymes for simmer

• brimmer
• dimmer
• glimmer
• grimmer
• nimmer
• rimmer
• shimmer
• skimmer
• slimmer
• swimmer
• timmer
• trimmer

Kids Definition

simmer

verb

sim·​mer

ˈsim-ər

simmered; simmering

-(ə-)riŋ

: to stew gently below or just at the boiling point

simmer noun