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Synonyms

broil

1 American  
[broil] / brɔɪl /

verb (used with object)

  1. to cook by direct heat, as on a gridiron over the heat or in an oven under the heat; grill.

    to broil a steak.

  2. to scorch; make very hot.


verb (used without object)

  1. to be subjected to great heat; become broiled.

  2. to burn with impatience, annoyance, etc.

noun

  1. the act or state of broiling; state of being broiled.

  2. something broiled, especially meat.

    She ordered a beef broil and salad.

broil 2 American  
[broil] / brɔɪl /

noun

  1. an angry quarrel or struggle; disturbance; tumult.

    a violent broil over who was at fault.


verb (used without object)

  1. to quarrel; brawl.

broil 1 British  
/ brɔɪl /

verb

  1. Usual equivalent (in Britain and other countries): grill.  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

  2. to become or cause to become extremely hot

  3. (intr) to be furious

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. the process of broiling

  2. something broiled

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
broil 2 British  
/ brɔɪl /

noun

  1. a loud quarrel or disturbance; brawl

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. (intr) to brawl; quarrel

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

  • broilingly adverb

Etymology

Origin of broil1

1300–50; Middle English brulen, brolyn, broillen < Anglo-French bruill ( i ) er, broil ( l ) er, Old French brusler, brul ( l ) er to burn ( French brûler ), a conflation of the verbs represented by Old French bruir to burn (< Frankish *brōjan; compare Middle High German brü ( ej ) en, German brühen to scald) and usler < Latin ustulāre to scorch

Origin of broil2

1400–50; late Middle English broylen to present in disorder, quarrel < Anglo-French, Old French broiller to jumble together < Gallo-Romance *brodiculāre, equivalent to *brod- (< Germanic; broth, brewis ) + Late Latin -iculāre v. suffix

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.

An early-season heat wave will broil much of inland California this week, with highs set to top 100 from the Antelope Valley to the Sacramento Valley.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2024

For our much-simplified version, we broil slices of za’atar-seasoned eggplant, and briefly soak sliced red onion and tomato in vinegar and salt with a little sugar to substitute the sweet and sour amba.

From Washington Times • Sep. 11, 2023

Prepare an outdoor grill on high heat, or set your oven to broil.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 22, 2023

She can whip up a couple of mean pasta dishes, barbeque chicken and broil a hell of a steak.

From Salon • Jul. 9, 2023

She would make up a beef stew in a Crock-Pot, or she would broil several chickens.

From "The Hot Zone" by Richard Preston