grill
1 Americannoun
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a grated utensil for broiling meat, fish, vegetables, etc., over a fire; gridiron.
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a dish of grilled meat, fish, etc.
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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)
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to broil on a gridiron or other apparatus over or before a fire.
- Synonyms:
- barbecue
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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)
noun
verb
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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
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(tr; usually passive) to torment with or as if with extreme heat
the travellers were grilled by the scorching sun
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informal (tr) to subject to insistent or prolonged questioning
noun
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a device with parallel bars of thin metal on which meat, fish, etc, may be cooked by a fire; gridiron
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a device on a cooker that radiates heat downwards for grilling meat, fish, etc
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food cooked by grilling
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See grillroom
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has grilledperfect 3rd person singular
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have grilledperfect
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am grillingprogressive 1st person singular
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grillingparticiple
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is grillingprogressive 3rd person singular
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have been grillingperfect progressive
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are grillingprogressive
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has been grillingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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grillssingular 3rd person
Past
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had grilledperfect
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had been grillingperfect progressive
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were grillingprogressive plural
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grilledsimple
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was grillingprogressive singular
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grilledparticiple
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.
Stir in an Italian dressing packet and a generous slick of olive oil, then let the mixture sit for a few minutes while you toast or grill some good sourdough.
From Salon • Jun. 2, 2026
Nash said a steel grill had been put into the side chamber in the cave to stop any vandalism to the art, so the only painting's only visitors are the bats who live there.
From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026
Just don’t keep it on the grill as long as you would an all-beef burger so the mushrooms don’t dry out.
From MarketWatch • May 22, 2026
Plus, lawmakers grill Kevin Warsh at his Fed chair confirmation hearing, and tailors are in high demand.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026
I asked old Ali if I could take over for a little while, and after washing my hands, I got behind the grill.
From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda
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.
