grill

1 of 2

verb

grilled; grilling; grills
Synonyms of grillnext

transitive verb

1
: to broil on a grill
also : to fry or toast on a griddle
2
a
: to torment as if by broiling
b
: to question intensely
the police grilled the suspect
griller noun

grill

2 of 2

noun

1
: a cooking utensil of parallel bars on which food is exposed to heat (as from charcoal or electricity)
2
: food that is broiled usually on a grill compare mixed grill
3
: a usually informal restaurant or dining room

Examples of grill in a Sentence

Verb We're planning to grill some chicken and burgers at the cookout. Her parents grilled her when she came home late. Noun She put the hamburgers on the grill. headed down to the local bar and grill for a beer and a burger
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.
Verb
Whether grilled, roasted, or baked in the oven, chicken and turkey breast are versatile and go with almost anything. Philipp Wehsack, Vogue, 28 Mar. 2026 The three of us spent well over an hour grilling five of the nine Republican candidates for governor with tough questions focused on Maryland’s biggest issues — from the ballooning budget deficit to content guidelines in schools. Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 27 Mar. 2026
Noun
In the middle of the community, there is a small barbecue grill and a couple of benches. Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026 Use grills or smokers only on gravel or paved surfaces. Brandi D. Addison, Des Moines Register, 26 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for grill

Word History

Etymology

Noun

French gril, from Old French greil, from Latin craticulum — more at griddle entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

1672, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1685, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of grill was in 1672

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Grill.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grill. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

grill

1 of 2 verb
1
: to broil on a grill
2
a
: to torment as if by broiling
b
: to question with repeated questions

grill

2 of 2 noun
1
: a grate on which food is broiled
2
: broiled food
3
: a restaurant that serves broiled foods

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