simmer
verb (used without object)
to cook or cook in a liquid at or just below the boiling point.
have been simmering
-
present perfect progressiveof simmer.present perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that began in the past, has continued continuously, and is still in progress.
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.
According to the Latin Grammy-winning producer and songwriter, the lawsuit began a “few months ago,” but he shared that the circumstances surrounding the case have been simmering for years.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026
Concerns over private credit have been simmering in the latter part of 2025, following the collapses of U.S. auto-parts supplier First Brands and car dealership Tricolor.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 17, 2025
Tensions around the limits of free speech are nothing new and since the advent of social media in the mid-2000s, the arguments have been simmering.
From BBC ● Sep. 22, 2025
But tensions have been simmering in this city on the west bank of the Hudson River some 60 miles north of New York over plans for some new additions to the park.
From New York Times ● Oct. 26, 2022
Rage may have been simmering deep within me, but my conscious reaction was, “Oh well, that’s okay, Radine. I understand. I guess I’ll see you tomorrow.”
From "Farewell to Manzanar" by Jeanne Houston
