- a variation of grille.
grill
1 Americannoun
-
a grated utensil for broiling meat, fish, vegetables, etc., over a fire; gridiron.
-
a dish of grilled meat, fish, etc.
-
Philately. a group of small pyramidal marks, embossed or impressed in parallel rows on certain U.S. and Peruvian stamps of the late 19th century to prevent erasure of cancellation marks.
verb (used with object)
-
grills,
present (3rd person singular)
-
grilled,
past participle, past
-
grilling
present participle
-
to broil on a gridiron or other apparatus over or before a fire.
- Synonyms:
- barbecue
-
to subject to severe and persistent cross-examination or questioning.
- Synonyms:
- probe, interrogate
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to torment with heat.
- Synonyms:
- torture
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to mark with a series of parallel bars like those of a grill.
verb (used without object)
-
grills,
present (3rd person singular)
-
grilled,
past participle, past
-
grilling
present participle
noun
verb
-
Usual US and Canadian word: broil. to cook (meat, fish, etc) by direct heat, as under a grill or over a hot fire, or (of meat, fish, etc) to be cooked in this way
-
(tr; usually passive) to torment with or as if with extreme heat
the travellers were grilled by the scorching sun
-
informal (tr) to subject to insistent or prolonged questioning
noun
-
a device with parallel bars of thin metal on which meat, fish, etc, may be cooked by a fire; gridiron
-
a device on a cooker that radiates heat downwards for grilling meat, fish, etc
-
food cooked by grilling
-
See grillroom
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
grillsimple
-
grillssimple
-
have grilledperfect
-
has grilledperfect
-
am grillingprogressive
-
are grillingprogressive
-
is grillingprogressive
-
have been grillingperfect progressive
-
has been grillingperfect progressive
Past
-
grilledsimple
-
had grilledperfect
-
was grillingprogressive
-
were grillingprogressive
-
had been grillingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of grill
1660–70; 1890–95 grill 1 for def. 6; < French gril gridiron ≪ Latin crātīculum, creātīculō, diminutive of crātis wickerwork, hurdle. See grille
Explanation
Not all grilling involves fire and delicious food. Sometimes, to grill means to ask a person really intense questions, like when you suspect them of doing something wrong and you want to make them confess the truth. Ever seen a film where a police officer puts a bright light in a criminal’s face and screams, “Did you do it?” That’s how you grill someone. You have to be tough on him, and not let him off the hook too easily. Being grilled means you are in the “hot seat,” and it’ll feel like you’re cooking from such a close examination. Better to grill than be grilled, but if you get caught — think of an alibi, quick!
Vocabulary lists containing grill
Blanch, Poach, and Scald: Cooking Methods
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The Poet X
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Inquire Within: Synoynms for "Ask"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
In addition to filming grill advertisements at the residence, the athlete used a private studio and office space to work on sermons.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 21, 2026
I mean, Hasan, every podcast or debate I go into over the past few months, people try to grill me on you, and they’re like, “Do you disavow Hasan Piker?”
From Slate ● Oct. 6, 2026
You can caramelize the corn in a skillet, but if you prefer it with a late-summer-smoky-char, cook the shucked cobs on the grill before cutting off the kernels.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026
Around that time, he took on the role of grill master at the offensive line barbecues.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 12, 2026
The pitas are warm, cooked on the grill, right at the front.
From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda
Possibly singed and mostly sandy, they storm the Mediterranean and return to their grills wet, steaming, and triumphant.
From Salon ● Aug. 11, 2026
Hunched over sizzling grills and shrouded in smoke, trainees at the Yueyang Barbecue Academy in southern China roast skewer after skewer of succulent beef tendon, perfecting the skills that could land them a restaurant job.
From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026
This July 4, millions of Americans will fire up their grills and cook plenty of burgers and steaks.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026
She said the grills had worked as a deterrent, not only stopping drinkers from damaging her windows, but also preventing them from sitting on her window sills and putting their glasses on them.
From BBC ● Mar. 4, 2026
Last Memorial Day, Daddy barbecued on our tiny balcony, and Mama fussed at him the whole time about charcoal grills not being allowed.
From "Isaiah Dunn Is My Hero" by Kelly J. Baptist
Over gurmanska pljeskavica—a traditional Serbian grilled patty mixed with cheese and spices—at his favorite Belgrade spot, Maksić offered a simpler measure of victory for someone who helped bring down a strongman.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 1, 2026
As we left full of grilled fish and stone pot bibimbap at 3 a.m.,
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 26, 2026
When spending the day at his coach’s house, Smith says, Luke would bring his own home-made lunch — usually, grilled chicken and rice with vegetables.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026
Halloumi appears fried, baked into pastries, turned into grilled cheese, served as the meat in a “burger,” and featured in gyro wraps and bowls.
From Salon ● Sep. 11, 2022
Fadi avoided the plate of mantu and chewed on a piece of tender grilled chicken, watching the American couple awkwardly dunk bread into their eggplant dip.
From "Shooting Kabul" by N. H. Senzai
I grew ill one night just from the fumes of grilling meat.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026
Have a listen while you’re caramelizing or grilling the corn.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 29, 2026
Interior Minister Bernard Quintin mounted a lengthy defence of the government's response during a grilling before the Belgian parliament on Thursday afternoon.
From Barron's ● Aug. 20, 2026
Rapport matters, and if you don’t have confidence in this guy when you are done politely grilling him like a hamburger on the Fourth of July, move on to someone who does.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 14, 2026
So used to summers on Beechwood, to endlessly stocked pantries and multiple motorboats and a staff quietly grilling steaks and washing linens—I didn’t even think about where that money might be coming from.
From "We Were Liars" by E. Lockhart
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
