Synonyms of billow

billow 1 of 2

noun

ˈbi-(ˌ)lō 

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

• wave
• swell
• surge
• ripple
• tsunami
• curl
• surf
• sea(s)
• whitecap
• comber
• breaker
• roller
• wavelet
• ground swell
• riffle
• tidal wave

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

• protrude
• poke
• bulge
• swell
• jut
• balloon
• stand out
• overhang
• bunch
• pouch
• stick out
• pout
• project
• start
• belly
• extend
• bag
• dome
• beetle
• inflate
• distend
• stretch
• dilate
• pooch
• lengthen
• expand
• elongate
• snowball
• mushroom
• blow up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• shrink
• contract
• compress
• condense
• constrict

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of billow

Noun

Smoke billows from a beekeeper's canister, paralyzing the colony just enough to reveal the intricate operation. — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2026

Father and son, both members of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe, stare out at a sea of green grass and buffalo berry bushes as a herd of 30 or so bison munch patches of grass, flick their tails at flies, and flop onto the ground, creating brief billows of dust. — Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 5 Mar. 2026

Verb

Twenty minutes before showtime, the skies blackened, the tents billowed and the decorations went airborne. — Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026

Highlights of this piece include a wide-leg pant that billows just the right amount, a coordinated V-neck with a loose, drapey feel, and rich, earthy colors to choose from in each. — Morgan Sullivan, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 July 2026