boiling 1 of 2

Definition of boilingnext

boiling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of boil
1
2
as in stewing
to cook in a liquid heated to the point that it gives off steam boil the potatoes until they are tender before you try to mash them

Synonyms & Similar Words

3
as in swirling
to be in a state of violent rolling motion the sea boiled and frothed during the storm

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 boiling
Adjective
More humane methods of killing lobsters pre-boiling include a sharp knife through the head, electrical stunning, or freezing. semafor.com, 29 Dec. 2025 Agrawal and her team studied ionic liquids — salts that are liquid at sub-boiling temperatures (below 212 degrees Fahrenheit, or 100 degrees Celsius) — as a potential hospitable environment for life. Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 13 Aug. 2025 One idea is that about a million years after the Big Bang, the universe cooled and underwent a phase transition, an event similar to how boiling water turns liquid into gas. Yasemin Saplakoglu, Scientific American, 3 Mar. 2020 If candy is still stuck on, pour more boiling water over whatever hasn’t come clean. Washington Post, 3 Dec. 2019 The simplest fix could be as easy as boiling water—boil a medium-size pot once or twice per week, and pour down the drain. Country Living Staff, Country Living, 14 Oct. 2019 Although boiling water is always a set temperature, eggs coming from the fridge or countertop are not. Genevieve Ko, latimes.com, 18 June 2019 Organizers shared tips to help prevent the virus, which include washing hands with soap for more than 30 seconds, eating food that is thoroughly cooked and boiling water before drinking. Rachel Axon, USA TODAY Sports, 6 Feb. 2018 More boiling water: Boil water advisories typically happen due to a water main break and/or a loss of pressure in the water system. Brian Manzullo, Detroit Free Press, 24 Oct. 2017
Verb
Since then, Rhodes’ blood has been boiling, and his issues with Fatu, a fellow Babyface, came to a head at WWE Saturday Night’s Main Event 2026 from the Bell Centre in Montreal. Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026 Combine equal parts white vinegar and hot (but not boiling) water in a spray bottle or bucket, then spray or pour the solution on the driveway. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 23 Jan. 2026 According to a press statement, the material can restore its structure even at temperatures as low as -196°C (-320°F), the boiling temperature of liquid nitrogen. Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 22 Jan. 2026 The simplest method involves boiling a pot of water in the oven and steaming the interior for 30 minutes. Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 20 Jan. 2026 Once boiling, turn off the heat. Shagun Khare, The Spruce, 18 Jan. 2026 Once the brine is boiling, Hilarides carefully ladles it in each jar over the ingredients. Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Jan. 2026 My WhatsApp was boiling with messages and videos. Boris Muñoz, Time, 12 Jan. 2026 The most popular cleaning methods for a menstrual cup include cleaning it with natural products like baking soda or castile soap, submerging it in a sterilizing solution like the type used for baby bottles or boiling it for five to 10 minutes. Bestreviews, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boiling
Adjective
  • Nowhere perhaps was the searing heat more evident than at Melbourne Park, where the usual crowds thronging outside the Australian Open tennis tournament dwindled to a ghost town as temperatures soared.
    CBS News, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Some might call it a searing eyesore.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 25 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Today, an armada is steaming towards Iran.
    Mariam Khan, ABC News, 28 Jan. 2026
  • Transfer to a large plate, spreading out to keep from steaming.
    Hana Asbrink, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Not so Wolverhampton Wanderers or West Ham United, who really are stewing in their own juices.
    Phil Hay, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
  • After two-plus days of stewing over the no-show against the Rockets, including a team meeting on Saturday and a rare Sunday morning shootaround, the Lakers found themselves in the second quarter, with Doncic scoring 15 of his 24 first-half points in the period for a 68-53 halftime lead.
    CBS News, CBS News, 28 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • Cook, swirling skillet occasionally and reducing heat if browning too quickly or if oil is smoking, until deep golden brown underneath, about 5 minutes.
    Chris Morocco, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
  • As the Chiefs’ offseason got off to an earlier-than-normal start, Patrick Mahomes’ season-ending ACL injury and the uncertainty swirling around Travis Kelce’s future are being closely watched in Kansas City.
    Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Please tell me the sequel could answer the most burning question of the ’00s: How could Austin not recognize Sam in that mask?
    Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 13 Aug. 2025
  • Cooper, 30, asked Hargitay one more burning question about the actors' on-screen alter egos: will Olivia and Elliot ever end up together?
    Victoria Edel, People.com, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • Set into motion by an innocuous wish, the James family is forced to explore their generational differences, intra-marital conflicts, raging hormones, and professional anxieties, in a complicated web of body-swapping madness.
    Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 27 Jan. 2026
  • At the time, a war was raging in Europe and the United States was seeking to assert its dominance in Latin America.
    Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 24 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Stir to combine, then add fennel (pan will be very full) and cook, occasionally turning fennel with a heatproof rubber spatula, until broth is simmering and fennel has reduced in volume slightly, 6–8 minutes.
    Shilpa Uskokovic, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
  • Instead, a wild, lengthy brawl erupted between the two bitter rivals, adding to this simmering feud.
    Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Marine officials said the tossing and churning in the surf caused gases to form and inflate the tongue.
    Adam Thompson, CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026
  • Bears defensive lineman Austin Booker was the next defender to contact Kinnard, but Kinnard kept churning his feet.
    Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Boiling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boiling. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.

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