boiling 1 of 2

Definition of boilingnext

boiling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of boil
1
2
as in stewing
to cook in a liquid heated to the point that it gives off steam boil the potatoes until they are tender before you try to mash them

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in swirling
to be in a state of violent rolling motion the sea boiled and frothed during the storm

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of boiling
Adjective
More humane methods of killing lobsters pre-boiling include a sharp knife through the head, electrical stunning, or freezing. semafor.com, 29 Dec. 2025 Agrawal and her team studied ionic liquids — salts that are liquid at sub-boiling temperatures (below 212 degrees Fahrenheit, or 100 degrees Celsius) — as a potential hospitable environment for life. Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 13 Aug. 2025 One idea is that about a million years after the Big Bang, the universe cooled and underwent a phase transition, an event similar to how boiling water turns liquid into gas. Yasemin Saplakoglu, Scientific American, 3 Mar. 2020 If candy is still stuck on, pour more boiling water over whatever hasn’t come clean. Washington Post, 3 Dec. 2019 The simplest fix could be as easy as boiling water—boil a medium-size pot once or twice per week, and pour down the drain. Country Living Staff, Country Living, 14 Oct. 2019 Although boiling water is always a set temperature, eggs coming from the fridge or countertop are not. Genevieve Ko, latimes.com, 18 June 2019 Organizers shared tips to help prevent the virus, which include washing hands with soap for more than 30 seconds, eating food that is thoroughly cooked and boiling water before drinking. Rachel Axon, USA TODAY Sports, 6 Feb. 2018 More boiling water: Boil water advisories typically happen due to a water main break and/or a loss of pressure in the water system. Brian Manzullo, Detroit Free Press, 24 Oct. 2017
Verb
Add eggs to a pot of already boiling water. Sarah Jampel, Bon Appetit Magazine, 31 Mar. 2026 When all are well mixed, pour on the boiling Ale by degrees, beating up the mixture continually; then pour it rapidly backward and forward from one jug to another, keeping one jug raised high above the other; till the flip is smooth and finely frothed. Jay R. Brooks, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2026 The research team tested water both before and after boiling and found that although lead levels remained below federal action thresholds, the process did not eliminate the risk of metal exposure. Bridget Shirvell, Hartford Courant, 29 Mar. 2026 These plants get my blood boiling because of the larger implications. Markis Hill, Kansas City Star, 28 Mar. 2026 The timber cruiser was boiling mad. Dave Duffey, Outdoor Life, 26 Mar. 2026 The waters the real Dahl waded into were boiling then and haven’t dropped a degree since. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026 The official was one of three who compared their recent experience at NRC to being in a pot of slowly boiling water. Avi Asher-Schapiro, ProPublica, 24 Mar. 2026 The experience typically involves boiling pots of soup placed directly on tables, often reaching temperatures that can cause serious burns. Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boiling
Adjective
  • Others have a broiler drawer that reaches very high temperatures for searing or toasting.
    Gemma Johnstone, The Spruce, 2 Apr. 2026
  • While states may be the last line of defense for consumers against unscrupulous personal lines insurers, the development is a searing indictment on the industry as a whole.
    Joe Wilkins, Futurism, 2 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • That includes popular dishes such as golden-brown birria tacos and steaming molcajete.
    Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Is steaming better than boiling eggs for deviled eggs?
    Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • After nine episodes spent stewing in suspicion, the CBS legal drama has released the tension from one of its biggest secrets and forced Julian into action.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 27 Feb. 2026
  • Short cooking preparations of okra, such as frying or sauteeing, release less mucilage than long ones, such as stewing.
    Andrew Coletti, Popular Science, 14 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • After weeks of romance rumors swirling on social media, Batula and Wilson addressed the fan speculation in their joint Instagram statement.
    Melina Khan, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
  • So much so, in fact, that rumors began swirling after the Bully leaks that Ye had been using AI to construct the album.
    Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
  • Please tell me the sequel could answer the most burning question of the ’00s: How could Austin not recognize Sam in that mask?
    Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 13 Aug. 2025
  • Cooper, 30, asked Hargitay one more burning question about the actors' on-screen alter egos: will Olivia and Elliot ever end up together?
    Victoria Edel, People.com, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • His raging sickness is realistically captured under James Bridges’ character-sensitive direction.
    Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 1 Apr. 2026
  • The current war raging between Iran and Israel — plus the United States — represents a stark departure from the behavior of previous American leaders.
    Arthur I. Cyr, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Drop the bag right into simmering water.
    Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2026
  • There is so much strategy simmering in every inhale before the action.
    Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 31 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Before this experience, Stem started her days scrolling social media and the news, churning up feelings of anger like storms in her mind.
    Natalia V. Osipova, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2026
  • The company is taking steps to reduce non-essential activity at its mining and haulage operations in Western Australia, according to a filing from Fenix, which also cited fuel supply disruptions posed by Tropical Cyclone Narelle currently churning off the coast.
    Katharine Gemmell, Bloomberg, 26 Mar. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Boiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boiling. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.

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