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.

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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.

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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

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noun

1. the process of broiling

2. something broiled

broil ² British  

/ brɔɪl /

noun

1. a loud quarrel or disturbance; brawl

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verb

1. (intr) to brawl; quarrel

Other Word Forms

• broilingly
  adverb

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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; see broth, brewis) + Late Latin -iculāre v. suffix

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Explanation

To broil is to cook something with direct exposure to fire. Broiling is similar to grilling, but you can also oven broil your steak if it's raining out. Have you ever had a cookout? If so, someone was probably heating up hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill. This is a type of broiling. Broiling involves direct exposure to a flame. You can broil with a grill, a campfire, and with many types of stoves. You can also say that cooking by broiling is a broil (the noun). People like to get a broil going, especially in the summer.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

broil

It’s the latest effect forecast for what’s expected to be an historically strong event, one forecasters warn could also lash Southern California with powerful rain and broil both land and sea with punishing heat waves.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026

If you’d like extra color, broil for 2 to 3 minutes at the end, watching carefully.

From Salon ● Mar. 11, 2026

Capital Beijing is expected to broil in 37-39°C temperatures until Saturday, and the Tianjin Meteorological Observatory raised its warning level to red with temperatures expected to hit 40°C.

From Reuters ● Jun. 16, 2023

We then use the same baking sheet to broil tomatoes and onion to form a chunky, relish-like sauce.

From Washington Times ● May 30, 2023

Then you’re left to slowly broil in your own juices.

From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman

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Related Words

• roast
• sear

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