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

Relevance

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
An American flag billows above the gray-shingle cottage, while the waves of Nantucket Harbor lap in a comforting rhythm. — Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2026 Taking a pass Smoke billows from a fire at the BioLab facility in Conyers in September 2024. — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Verb
Video showed a plume billowing from the tank Wednesday morning, hours after the leak first erupted Tuesday night. — John Seewer, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026 Mike Jensen Dobson rushed toward the burning SUV and pulled the man from the vehicle as smoke and fire billowed out. — Jennifer McRae, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for billow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for billow
  1. wave
  2. protrude
  3. swell
  4. poke
  5. bulge
Noun
  • This wave of optimism around the Indian markets comes at a time when corporate earnings for the September quarter have shown material improvement.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026
  • During the summer, heavy waves and erosion closed the rail line for several days.
    — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of wave
Verb
  • Wire-thin cables protruding from the implant exit Pancho’s skull through the coin-sized opening.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Once fished to the brink of extinction globally, sand tiger sharks, that iconic aquarium shark with a jaw of protruding, jagged teeth that only a mother could love, have been increasing in the Boston Harbor over the last decade.
    — Asia London Palomba, Christian Science Monitor, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of protrude
Noun
  • Since the large swell is from the west, south facing areas such as Malibu and Long Beach will be less affected unlike the previous events where the swell was from the south.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Lee’s Summit perspectives Former Lee’s Summit Mayor Bill Baird said Patterson’s close association with Republicans came back to hurt him in a cycle when a series of unpopular ballot measures backed by Republicans brought out a swell of voters.
    — Nathan Pilling, Kansas City Star, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of swell
Verb
  • On the other, the black sand slopes downward into darkness, garden eels poking cautiously from burrows before instantly retreating at the slightest movement.
    — Avantika Chaturvedi, Travel + Leisure, 9 Nov. 2026
  • But Miami broke through in the third quarter when Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore went to the bench after being poked in the eye, according to the NBC broadcast.
    — Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of poke
Verb
  • But on my face is my stupid sleep mask, with the bumps bulging out over the eyes.
    — Jenny Hughes, The Spruce, 29 Oct. 2026
  • Earlier in the week, the team said the 23-year-old NFL player had been dealing with a bulging disc in his back.
    — Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of bulge

Browse Nearby Words

bill of fare
billow
billowed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Billow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/billow. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gauntlet

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
woman sitting on floor holding book in front of her face on pink background
Famous Novels, Last Lines Quiz Needless to say, spoiler alert.
See All