boil down

verb

boiled down; boiling down; boils down

transitive verb

1

: to reduce in bulk by boiling

2

: condense, summarize

boil down a report

intransitive verb

1

: to undergo reduction in bulk by boiling

2

a

: to be equivalent in summary : amount

his speech boiled down to a plea for more money

b

: to reduce ultimately

your choices boil down to three

Synonyms

• abstract
• brief
• digest
• encapsulate
• epitomize
• outline
• recap
• recapitulate
• reprise
• sum up
• summarize
• synopsize
• wrap up

Examples of boil down in a Sentence

the discussion of the problem can be boiled down to a couple of critical points

Recent Examples on the Web

Strong positioning boils down to three things: What? —Diana Khramina, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025

Well, yes, the year’s first major golf championship could boil down to a Scottie-Rory show. —Bob Spear, Charlotte Observer, 7 Apr. 2025

My wedding-guest dressing rule boils down to two words: comfortable shoes. —Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2025

But this doesn’t preclude the desire so many have to believe that not every single thing in the universe can be boiled down to facts and figures and that there is a power greater than the almighty atom. —Marsha Sutton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1723, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for boil down

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown

Kids Definition

boil down

verb

: to reduce or become reduced by or as if by boiling

let the sauce boil down

boil down a report