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
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
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 As red smoke billowed above them, the students stood in front of large gray letters spelling out the school's name, holding a Palestinian flag. — Asra Q. Nomani, FOXNews.com, 9 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
  • Suspicions of state corruption in infrastructure projects two years ago set off a wave of street protests after a collapsed canopy at a train station in Serbia's north killed 16 people after a renovation.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Oct. 2026
  • In December 2004 such a wave swept over Earth, causing some havoc.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of wave
Verb
  • 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
  • The face is a glossy black plastic with the exterior lenses slightly protruding, keeping the front from looking like a single flat surface.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of protrude
Noun
  • The swells flooded parts of the Pacific Coast Highway, forcing the closure of multiple stretches of the road in Huntington Beach.
    — Jack Flemming, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Along with several other candidates this cycle, Chevalier became emblematic of a new swell of progressivism in America.
    — Mark Guiducci, Vanity Fair, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of swell
Verb
  • But with just a step to her other side or a shake of her head on stage, the near-auburn shade moves to the forefront, with dimensional pieces of golden blonde poking through.
    — Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 30 Oct. 2026
  • In the close-up clip, the Gossip Girl actress’ face is completely covered except for her eyes, nose and lips poking through a white face mask.
    — Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 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
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Cite this Entry

“Billow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/billow. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

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