boil down
verb
boiled down; boiling down; boils down
1
: to undergo reduction in bulk by boiling
2
a
: to be equivalent in summary : amount
his speech boiled down to a plea for more money
b
: to reduce ultimately
your choices boil down to three
Examples of boil down in a Sentence
the discussion of the problem can be boiled down to a couple of critical points
Recent Examples on the Web
Her performance as a nun who confronts the College of Cardinals boils down to just one scene, but that scene is crucial to the film — and so is Rossellini, making the most of her few lines.
—
Tom Gliatto, People.com, 2 Mar. 2025
In The Air Fryer This really boils down to three simple steps:
1.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 24 Feb. 2025
When things were going wrong at Manchester United, the story was about his decline, about the kid who was the future once but, for reasons too varied and nuanced to boil down into responsible talking points, had become persona non grata at Old Trafford.
—Nick Miller, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025
This boils down to nothing more than bribery — dismissing the charges in return for whatever benefits Trump can exact from Adams.
—Nick Akerman, New York Daily News, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for boil down
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.
Tom Gliatto, People.com, 2 Mar. 2025
In The Air Fryer This really boils down to three simple steps:
1.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 24 Feb. 2025
When things were going wrong at Manchester United, the story was about his decline, about the kid who was the future once but, for reasons too varied and nuanced to boil down into responsible talking points, had become persona non grata at Old Trafford.
—Nick Miller, The Athletic, 24 Feb. 2025
This boils down to nothing more than bribery — dismissing the charges in return for whatever benefits Trump can exact from Adams.
—Nick Akerman, New York Daily News, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for boil down
Cite this Entry
“Boil down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boil%20down. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share