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

Picking the right pet boils down to a person's lifestyle, how the pet socializes and pet policies. —Krystal Nurse, USA TODAY, 25 Jan. 2025

Now Heartbeat presents the hundred-and-twenty-year-old opera in English—a rare occurrence for this particular tale—with instrumentation boiled down to a simple eight clarinets and two percussionists. —The New Yorker, 24 Jan. 2025

Cities are weirdly static and exploration boils down to simple puzzles and uninspired loot. —Erik Kain, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2025

The outcome boils down to a key determination: Is Patrick Mahomes inevitable, or has Josh Allen become invincible? —Jeff Howe, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1723, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

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