as in to protrude
to extend outward beyond a usual point
the curtains in the open windows billowed in the summer wind
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 billow
Chris Lau, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2025
Video released by the prison shows large chunks of debris flying off the roof with what appears to be billows of black storm clouds above the penitentiary.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2025
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2025
The cabin is full of Arsham’s touches, including bathroom tiles made of recycled material and amorphous glass sconces that appear to billow like fabric.
—John Wogan, Robb Report, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for billow
Noun
Tokyo — Large clouds of smoke billow from Japan’s most famous mountain.
—Chris Lau, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2025
Video released by the prison shows large chunks of debris flying off the roof with what appears to be billows of black storm clouds above the penitentiary.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2025
Verb
The movie’s most striking scene, unsurprisingly, is the big show, staged in an outdoor woodland setting (very vintage McQueen) in which the models are caught in thunderous rain, their flowing gowns billowing in hurricane-force winds.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2025
The cabin is full of Arsham’s touches, including bathroom tiles made of recycled material and amorphous glass sconces that appear to billow like fabric.
—John Wogan, Robb Report, 6 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for billow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for billow
Noun
-
But the new wave of disavowals represents the latest sign that the conflict, which has killed thousands of Palestinians, has become polarizing within the mainstream of the party.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
In the Atlantic, a tropical wave is forecast to emerge off the west African coast in the next couple of days.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The display bezels are super thin at the top and on both sides, with Lenovo’s protruding upper-edge notch housing the webcam and other electronics.—
Mark Coppock,
PC Magazine,
11 Sep. 2025
-
That is followed by a tabletop planetarium featuring images of planets beamed onto moving objects which magically protrude from it.—
Caroline Reid,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
But the swell of the score told us we were supposed to like that Andy left Paris.—
Megan Angelo,
Glamour,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Kiko's swells should peak by Wednesday across the waters of the western islands, the hurricane center said.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Keep communication open by avoiding poking fun at these practices.—
Ashleigh N. DeLuca,
Parents,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Gibson proceeded to the Children’s Chorus room, where two staffers welcomed her to poke through the costume racks.—
Sarah Larson,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
De Meo has been tasked with engineering a speedy turnaround for Kering, which has been dragged down by steep declines at its star brand Gucci and a bulging debt load.—
Joelle Diderich,
Footwear News,
9 Sep. 2025
-
To be a real man, according to this content, young adolescent boys are expected to be tall and broad-shouldered with bulging biceps, pronounced trapezius muscles, and washboard abs.—
Ashleigh N. DeLuca,
Parents,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Billow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/billow. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share