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

In practice this will boil down to all-day tracking of activity and heart rate, which will in turn be used to analyze the wearer’s stress levels. —Andrew Williams, Forbes.com, 17 June 2025

But their motives often boil down to one thing: landing a career in the profession of their choice. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 17 June 2025

Last but not least, this kinship also boiled down to the fact that Italians and Quebecois did share aesthetic sensibilities. —Angelica Frey, JSTOR Daily, 16 June 2025

But the match boiled down to Wellesley’ first doubles pair of Mia Chung and Sari Hart, who sealed the win with a three-set thriller. —Jason Cooke, Boston Herald, 15 June 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