as in to summarize
to make into a short statement of the main points (as of a report)
the discussion of the problem can be boiled down to a couple of critical points
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Recent Examples of boil down
The case boiled down to video of the incident and dueling theories by defense and prosecution experts on police use of force.
—
Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025
The sap is less than 3% sugar; 32 to 40 gallons of sap boil down to just one gallon of syrup.
—Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 15 Sep. 2025
This week boils down to a simple choice.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2025
Meditation Though meditation often sounds like a complicated practice, it can be boiled down to a simple notion—one single point of focus.
—Cory Martin, Verywell Health, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for boil down
Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 16 Sep. 2025
The sap is less than 3% sugar; 32 to 40 gallons of sap boil down to just one gallon of syrup.
—Cathy Thomas, Oc Register, 15 Sep. 2025
This week boils down to a simple choice.
—Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Sep. 2025
Meditation Though meditation often sounds like a complicated practice, it can be boiled down to a simple notion—one single point of focus.
—Cory Martin, Verywell Health, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for boil down
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boil down
Verb
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To summarize, the protagonist, lost in hopeless days, eventually stumbles upon a deserted dance hall.—
Billboard Japan,
Billboard,
17 Oct. 2025
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In the moment that summarizes one of Good News’ thematic throughlines, Nobody is speaking to Seo Go-myung (Weak Hero Class 1’s Hong Kyung), an ambitious Air Force lieutenant who is as close to an audience surrogate as Good News gets.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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According to the Defense Department’s press office, which outlined the new rules last month, reporters covering the Pentagon must sign a pledge not to obtain or use unauthorized material (even if the information is unclassified).—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
14 Oct. 2025
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Let’s start by outlining the situation that motivated inflation, what the idea of inflation is, and what the theory does (and doesn’t) predict, both generically and in gory detail.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Boil down.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boil%20down. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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