simmer
Americanverb (used without object)
-
simmers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
simmered,
past participle, past
-
simmering
present participle
-
to cook or cook in a liquid at or just below the boiling point.
-
to make a gentle murmuring sound, as liquids cooking just below the boiling point.
-
to be in a state of subdued or restrained activity, development, excitement, anger, etc..
The town simmered with rumors.
verb (used with object)
-
simmers,
present (3rd person singular)
-
simmered,
past participle, past
-
simmering
present participle
-
to keep (liquid) in a state approaching boiling.
-
to cook in a liquid that is kept at or just below the boiling point.
noun
-
simmers
plural
verb phrase
verb
-
to cook (food) gently at or just below the boiling point
-
(intr) to be about to break out in rage or excitement
noun
Synonym Usage
See boil 1.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
simmersimple
-
simmerssimple
-
have simmeredperfect
-
has simmeredperfect
-
am simmeringprogressive
-
are simmeringprogressive
-
is simmeringprogressive
-
have been simmeringperfect progressive
-
has been simmeringperfect progressive
Past
-
simmeredsimple
-
had simmeredperfect
-
was simmeringprogressive
-
were simmeringprogressive
-
had been simmeringperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of simmer
First recorded in 1645–55; alteration of earlier simper < ?
Explanation
Usually when you're making a soup, you want to bring it to a boil and then let it simmer, cooking it just below the boiling point to get all the flavors to release. The word simmer is usually used to describe the temperature just below boiling or the process of cooking something at that temperature. But it can also be used to describe a feeling that's been simmering or slowly developing over time. It's also a word used to describe suppressed anger — that feeling just before you boil over. Just in case you do boil over, you might need to take a moment to simmer down, a casual expression that means, "Chill out, my friend."
Vocabulary lists containing simmer
Out of the Dust
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Words to Know Before You Defrost the Bird
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Blanch, Poach, and Scald: Cooking Methods
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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:
Analysts expect few breakthroughs as trade tensions simmer.
From Barron's ● Sep. 30, 2026
For a stronger peach and pepper flavor, let the mixture simmer toward the longer end of the range.
From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026
Analysts expect the current cycle to simmer during Micron’s fiscal 2028, which ends in August 2028.
From MarketWatch ● May 27, 2026
The summit projected an air of friendship between the world’s two most powerful nations, even as tensions simmer over trade, technology and geopolitical influence.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 14, 2026
She turns the knobs down and brings the boiling pots to a simmer.
From "Piecing Me Together" by Renée Watson
This version simmers ripe peaches with honey and whole black peppercorns until the fruit collapses and the syrup turns fragrant, floral and just a little prickly.
From Salon ● Aug. 16, 2026
The dangers are mounting outside and distrust simmers within.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026
The forecast for inflation was also raised, but the Fed still thinks prices will increase less than 3% in 2026, assuming the conflict with Iran simmers down.
From MarketWatch ● Mar. 24, 2026
The piece simmers on the instrumental cover of “Land of a Thousand Dances,” Chris Kenner’s hypnotic 1962 R&B single.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 25, 2025
She gives him a small smile, and hope simmers in my heart.
From "You Bring the Distant Near" by Mitali Perkins
Her generation needs a platform like the Cockroach Janta Party to voice frustrations that have simmered for years, she said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 7, 2026
Meaning: Do you want your dish smothered in sauce made from roasted green chiles, or a simmered counterpart fashioned from dried red chile pods?
From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2026
On an embroidered picnic laid out on the grass, a group of friends chatted over tea as food simmered gently on a gas stove.
From Barron's ● Apr. 2, 2026
There’s also mille-feuille nabe, a Japanese hot pot dish that’s layered with napa cabbage and thin slices of pork belly simmered in dashi broth.
From Salon ● Feb. 21, 2026
Time beat past them, and Pet simmered in a corner, but Jam ignored it, focusing on Redemption.
From "Pet" by Akwaeke Emezi
This week’s action in the stock market has reflected investors’ concerns about higher long-term interest rates and a simmering of the AI infrastructure trade.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
Asian stocks dropped, tracking the weakness in U.S. technology stocks, as simmering geopolitical tensions continued to weigh on appetite for risky assets.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
Disagreements within the Tata Group have been simmering since the death of former chairman Ratan Tata - Noel Tata's half-brother who designated him successor after his death - in 2024.
From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026
His every motive feels ulterior, and his inevitable simmering romance with Lowen resembles a can of worms that could pop open at any moment.
From Salon ● Oct. 9, 2026
Juan poked the simmering egg and yucca mix with a spatula.
From "Shadowshaper" by Daniel José Older
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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.
