sill
noun
a horizontal timber, block, or the like serving as a foundation of a wall, house, etc.
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Silq.
sill
1 American
[sil]
/ sɪl /
noun
-
sills
plural
-
a horizontal timber, block, or the like serving as a foundation of a wall, house, etc.
-
the horizontal piece or member beneath a window, door, or other opening.
-
Geology. a tabular body of intrusive igneous rock, ordinarily between beds of sedimentary rocks or layers of volcanic ejecta.
Sill
2
American
[sil]
/ sɪl /
noun
sill
British
/ sɪl /
noun
-
a shelf at the bottom of a window inside a room
-
a horizontal piece along the outside lower member of a window, that throws water clear of the wall below
-
the lower horizontal member of a window or door frame
-
a continuous horizontal member placed on top of a foundation wall in order to carry a timber framework
-
a flat usually horizontal mass of igneous rock, situated between two layers of older sedimentary rock, that was formed by an intrusion of magma
sill
Scientific
/ sĭl /
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of sill
before 900; Middle English sille, Old English syl, sylle; cognate with Low German süll, Old Norse syll; akin to German Schwelle sill
Vocabulary lists containing sill
Earth Science - Middle School
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Earth Science - High School
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Rocks and Minerals - Middle School and High School
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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:
The Red Sea was initially connected from the north to the Mediterranean through a shallow sill.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 8, 2025
“It’s the law,” the not-unkind super replies — though Alex, now 2, can barely sit up, let alone reach the sill.
From New York Times ● Apr. 23, 2024
They’re sill exploring options, including possibly lending it to the L.A.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 11, 2024
The hearing was told Sir Bobby had lost his balance as he stood up from his chair, striking a window sill and "possibly a radiator".
From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2023
I jumped up and leaned over the sill.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
Sill, Emanuel concludes: “With none of the flags pointing to elevated systemic risks, EVR ISI Strategy continues to see S&P 500 ending 2026 at 7,750, with the potential for a bubble forming at 30%.”
From MarketWatch ● Dec. 29, 2025
The trunk and benches were hidden behind curtains while they were being installed at The Sill, which is just two miles from where the tree had stood.
From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2025
In the mountains east of San Diego, a wind gust of 102 mph was recorded at Sill Hill, nearing the all-time record of 105 mph recorded there on Feb. 26, 2020, Tardy said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 22, 2025
“People don’t realize until after that the kayak doesn’t fit the space well,” Sill says.
From Seattle Times ● May 17, 2024
Soon after this I was sent once more to Fort Sill, Oklahoma, for still more missile and radar schooling.
From This Side of Wild by Gary Paulsen
"She used to somersault off the window sills," said mother Leanne, while father Chris admitted they "still did not know anything about gymnastics".
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
I have so many books, but never enough shelves, so I have books everywhere — piled up on tables, chairs, running along window sills, books in every available nook and cranny.
From New York Times ● May 9, 2024
Snow gently piled on window sills and in corners didn’t melt, revealing one piece of trivia most Hallmark aficionados have long known.
From Salon ● Dec. 23, 2023
Eventually, all that water poured into Planada, rushing into town in the dark, surrounding people’s homes, rising up in their yards, eventually seeping in under door frames and window sills.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 18, 2023
Instinctively everyone reached for posts and sills to keep themselves steady.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
