sizzle
Americanverb (used without object)
-
sizzles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
sizzled,
past participle, past
-
sizzling
present participle
verb (used with object)
-
sizzles,
present (3rd person singular)
-
sizzled,
past participle, past
-
sizzling
present participle
noun
-
sizzles
plural
verb
-
to make the hissing sound characteristic of frying fat
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informal to be very hot
-
informal to be very angry
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
sizzlesimple
-
sizzlessimple
-
have sizzledperfect
-
has sizzledperfect
-
am sizzlingprogressive
-
are sizzlingprogressive
-
is sizzlingprogressive
-
have been sizzlingperfect progressive
-
has been sizzlingperfect progressive
Past
-
sizzledsimple
-
had sizzledperfect
-
was sizzlingprogressive
-
were sizzlingprogressive
-
had been sizzlingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of sizzle
1595–1605; imitative; see -le
Explanation
When things sizzle, they make a sound like the hissing and popping you hear when you fry food in fat. Drop pieces of bacon in a hot pan and they'll sizzle. A grilled cheese sandwich sizzles in melted butter, and veggie burgers sizzle on a hot grill. You can also use sizzle in a figurative way, when it's so hot that you feel like food in a hot pan: "I'm not going to the pool today, I'll sizzle in the heat." This verb dates from about 1600, and it probably comes from the imitative Middle English sissen.
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:
The actors, in turn, can add a few performances for their sizzle reels that post-date whatever controversy pushed them out of the limelight.
From Salon ● Oct. 18, 2026
Where are the network partners and the sizzle reel PR machine?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
But you can still watch a sizzle reel of Argentina defeating Egypt and follow Switzerland vs.
From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026
The buzz: Though lacking the sizzle of Brazil-Morocco, Group C’s other first-day matchup is no less important.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 2026
Behind my eyes, I feel the sizzle of tears.
From "Rules" by Cynthia Lord
Recorded in just three days, this album of blues covers sizzles.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
The next day is deep-clean Monday, when First Watch dishwashers scrub coffee urns and the greasy grates where bacon sizzles.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 12, 2026
That distinct fat melts slowly in the oven, creating a loose, craggy structure that sizzles into a proper crust on the outside while staying plush within.
From Salon ● Mar. 11, 2026
"The leads are captivating and their chemistry sizzles," he said.
From BBC ● Feb. 10, 2026
It sizzles again, then turns the sprouts brown.
From "Everything Sad Is Untrue" by Daniel Nayeri
The anchovy sizzled itself into the oil coating those browned alliums.
From Salon ● Sep. 28, 2026
Pots clanged and oil sizzled inside the London kitchen of Syrian chef Imad Alarnab, as the former refugee who fled his country's civil war recalled hosting King Charles III.
From Barron's ● Mar. 2, 2026
Steam rises from snack stands selling noodles and sizzled octopus on sticks on the Chinese side.
From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2024
Carne asada, with impeccably seasoned lion’s mane mushrooms standing in for steak, sizzled on the grill as plumes of smoke filled the air.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 16, 2024
The engine sizzled and creaked with heat and the jet of steam that blew down the overflow pipe sounded like the hiss of an alligator.
From "Cannery Row" by John Steinbeck
I did the same: three dishes for lunch on my own, a whole fried fish in a sweet-tart sauce, braised pork in a clay pot, and tofu in a sizzling skillet.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026
For many, the smell of charcoal and sizzling meat is the scent of summer.
From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026
But for all of the Stones’ gusto, it’s the cover versions that find them at their sizzling best.
From Salon ● Jul. 13, 2026
Serving up heaps of fatty cabeza and sizzling al pastor, it grew to nearly a dozen locations spanning from Long Beach to L.A. to the Antelope Valley, drawing praise from prominent food critics.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 8, 2026
The icy thatched roof made a sizzling sound, and she realized it was already beginning to flame.
From "When the Sea Turned to Silver" by Grace Lin
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