boil
6 synonyms and 1 antonym for boil, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To heat a liquid until it bubbles and turns to vapor.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb
To heat a liquid until it bubbles and turns to vapor.
“Boil the water before adding the pasta.”
Opposites
2. noun
A painful, swollen, pus-filled lump on the skin caused by infection.
“The boil on his neck needed to be lanced by a doctor.”
How to use boil
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
bring to a boil
boil water
lance a boil
Etymology
From Old English byle/byl, "swelling," related to Dutch buil and German Beule — both meaning "boil" or "swelling."
Full origin of boil →Frequently asked questions
What does “boil” mean?
The word “boil” means to heat a liquid until it bubbles and turns to vapor. In plain terms, to heat a liquid to bubbling point — or, as a noun, a painful infected swelling on the skin.
How do you pronounce “boil”?
“Boil” is pronounced boyl (/bɔɪ(ə)l/ in IPA).
How do you use “boil” in a sentence?
Here is “boil” used in a sentence: “Boil the water before adding the pasta.”
What part of speech is “boil”?
Depending on how it is used, “boil” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “boil” come from?
The word “boil” comes from Old English. From Old English byle/byl, "swelling," related to Dutch buil and German Beule — both meaning "boil" or "swelling.".
Is “boil” a common word?
“Boil” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “boil” have?
“Boil” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to heat a liquid until it bubbles and turns to vapor.
What is the difference between boil and simmer?
Boil means heating a liquid until it bubbles vigorously and turns to vapor, typically at its highest temperature, while simmer refers to cooking a liquid at a lower temperature with gentler, smaller bubbles just below boiling point. Recipes often instruct bringing something to a boil before reducing it to a simmer.
What is the difference between a boil and a pimple?
A boil is a painful, swollen, pus-filled lump on the skin caused by infection, usually larger and deeper than a pimple, which is a smaller blemish typically linked to clogged pores. Boils often require medical attention if they do not drain or heal on their own.
What does it mean to bring something to a boil?
To bring something to a boil means to heat a liquid until it reaches the point where it bubbles and turns to vapor. This is a common step in cooking instructions before adding other ingredients or reducing the heat.
