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billow 1 of 2

noun

ˈbi-(ˌ)lō How to pronounce billow (audio)
Definition of billownext
as in wave
a moving ridge on the surface of water the great billows created by the ocean storm threatened to swamp the fishing boat

Synonyms & Similar Words

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billow

2 of 2

verb

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
Noun
Smoke billows from southern Lebanon following Israeli strikes as seen from Nabatieh, Lebanon, on Sunday. — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 31 May 2026 Smoke billows following an Israeli strike on the area of the Rawdat al-Salihin Mosque and the nearby cemetery in the southern city of Nabatieh, Lebanon, May 26, 2026. — CBS News, 27 May 2026
Verb
The crash, which sent thick black smoke billowing into the sky, trapped the pilot and co-pilot in the cockpit and some occupants in cars, said Miami-Dade Fire Rescue Chief Ray Jadallah. — David Fischer, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026 The Fairburn Fire Department, which also responded to the blaze, posted dramatic video Sunday evening of a huge, black plume of smoke billowing from a warehouse on Mallory Road. — Henri Hollis, AJC.com, 7 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for billow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for billow
  1. wave
  2. protrude
  3. swell
  4. poke
  5. bulge
Noun
  • Large, destructive waves and life-threatening rip currents are forecast across many Hawaiian shorelines during the next several days.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026
  • And, in recent years, a new culinary wave has emerged, as chefs create bold fusion dishes or, more subtly, adapt Japanese recipes to uniquely Brazilian produce, from Amazon river fish to jambu, a tongue-tingling herb.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 6 Sep. 2026
Definition of wave
Verb
  • Anything that protrudes above the shallow, insulating snow cover is more prone to being damaged by the cold and wind or eaten by wildlife, said plant ecologist Anne Bjorkman of the University of Gothenburg in Sweden.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Other animals on-site include a stable full of horses and Cowboy the tortoise, who is about the size of a lawnmower and whose head protrudes from what looks like a Venus flytrap made of bone.
    — Emma Madden, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of protrude
Noun
  • Every now and then, instead of hitting the wooden boardwalk and shooting several stories skyward, a swell would simply surge over the top of the wall, sending saltwater and debris down the street.
    — Jack Dolan, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Waves crashing above rooftops in Long Beach from historic swell smashing the Alamitos Peninsula.
    — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of swell
Verb
  • The dog’s ribs poked out, her skin was irritated and red, and patches of fur were missing — a possible sign of mange.
    — Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Natural light pokes through the windows, adding a trademark freshness to an indoor coliseum.
    — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of poke
Verb
  • At the end of his second-round match against Hubert Hurkacz, an eye-bulging celebration followed a relentless performance against a very tricky opponent.
    — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • Inside, the main route to the galleries is down a stairwell between rough black bulging walls.
    — Michael Joseph Gross, Travel + Leisure, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of bulge

Browse Nearby Words

bill of fare
billow
billowed
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Cite this Entry

“Billow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/billow. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

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