billow

1 of 2

noun

bil·​low ˈbi-(ˌ)lō How to pronounce billow (audio)
1
: wave
especially : a great wave or surge of water
the rolling billows of the sea
2
: a rolling mass (as of flame or smoke) that resembles a high wave
Billows of smoke poured out of the building.
billows of fog
billowy adjective

billow

2 of 2

verb

billowed; billowing; billows

intransitive verb

1
: to rise or roll in waves or surges
the billowing sea
2
: to bulge or swell out (as through action of the wind)
billowing clouds
… the flags … billowed out in pride …G. B. Oxnam

transitive verb

: to cause to billow
a field of burning grass billowing thick black clouds of smoke into the skyDonald Windham

Examples of billow in a Sentence

Noun Billows of smoke poured out of the burning building. the rolling billows of the sea Verb the curtains in the open windows billowed in the summer wind
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Smoke billows as fire burns while powerful winds fueling devastating wildfires in the Los Angeles area force people to evacuate, at the Eaton Fire in Altadena, California, U.S. January 8, 2025. Jesse Pound, CNBC, 8 Jan. 2025 But now and then, here and there, one of the pipes springs a leak and the escaping steam billows up through the nearest manhole. Patrick McGeehan, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024
Verb
In the clip, Mathison walks down a path that appears to be outside of where the home once stood as orange skies and billowing smoke are visible in the background. Natalia Senanayake, People.com, 8 Jan. 2025 World, a Los Angeles label founded by former American Apparel employees, offers pants with both billowing and straight-leg profiles that while not expressly designed for fitness, are being utilized by yoga studios as in-house merchandise. Misty White Sidell, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for billow 

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Old Norse bylgja; akin to Old High German balg bag — more at belly

First Known Use

Noun

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1592, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of billow was in 1552

Dictionary Entries Near billow

Cite this Entry

“Billow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/billow. Accessed 15 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

billow

1 of 2 noun
bil·​low ˈbil-ō How to pronounce billow (audio)
1
: wave entry 2 sense 1
especially : a large wave
2
: a rolling mass like a high wave
billows of smoke

billow

2 of 2 verb
1
: to rise or roll in waves
the billowing ocean
2
: to bulge or swell out
sails billowing in the breeze

More from Merriam-Webster on billow

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