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
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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grillsimple
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grillssimple
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have grilledperfect
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has grilledperfect
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am grillingprogressive
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are grillingprogressive
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is grillingprogressive
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have been grillingperfect progressive
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has been grillingperfect progressive
Past
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grilledsimple
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had grilledperfect
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was grillingprogressive
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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:
Split the lobsters lengthwise with a sharp, heavy knife, brush them with butter and grill them once your guests have arrived, since they cook very quickly.
From Salon ● Jul. 12, 2026
She asked about their prices for beef heading into the holiday weekend, when demand for burgers on the grill is at its highest.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026
Though the academy only admitted its first batch of students in April, founder Jiang Zongfu aims to train 10,000 grill masters within five years.
From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026
“There is no reason not to fill up the grill, but a little strategic planning can save a lot of money,” says the firm.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 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
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
Outdoor cooking has never been more confusing, what with pellet smokers that call themselves grills and charcoal grills that require electricity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 28, 2026
"Parents crying. Staff overwhelmed, a few trying to help, others avoiding passengers, chatting behind grills in the tube entrance."
From BBC ● May 30, 2026
Once he dismisses us, the congregation goes outside, where a few of the deacons are flipping burgers and hot dogs on the grills.
From "Betty Before X" by Ilyasah Shabazz and Renée Watson
She said it was "a tough one because I have a lot of palettes to appease", with her British-born husband favouring "meat, potatoes and cream sauce" while she preferred grilled fish.
From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026
A top lawmaker from Australia's far-right One Nation party has grabbed headlines after exploding at a misbehaving dog as he was grilled on live TV.
From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026
To make a bottle of elderflower liqueur go farther, add a splash or two to fruit desserts like strawberries or grilled stone fruit.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026
Even so, when Paul told me that he and his partner were separating, my jaw hit the ground, taking a stray piece of grilled chicken with it.
From Salon ● Jul. 5, 2026
Every single one of the staff has been grilled by the captain, and tomorrow the captain himself goes to be grilled by his commander, the dreadful Nikolaus Ferber.
From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein
Summer also happens to be peak grilling season.
From Salon ● Jul. 25, 2026
Facing his last weekly grilling from MPs in parliament, Starmer said he wanted to see the next leader of his centre-left Labour party succeed.
From Barron's ● Jul. 15, 2026
And before Cretton could come back to his notes, Kingsley turned the tables and began grilling him.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 17, 2026
A dad who dreams of a Michelin star will appreciate an eight-piece set of grilling tools for his barbecue setup.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
I would almost swear to you I could smell the aroma of grilling steaks wafting up to us on the evening air.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
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.
