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
billowed; billowing; billows
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
G. B. Oxnam
: to cause to billow
a field of burning grass billowing thick black clouds of smoke into the sky—Donald Windham
Donald WindhamSynonyms
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 WebMark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2024
Flames and plumes of smoke billow over wrecked vehicles in the aftermath of the operation, according to footage taken at 1:10 p.m. local time and obtained by CNN.
—Mohammad Al Sawalhi, CNN, 26 June 2024
Clint Davis, Peoplemag, 25 June 2024
The models smoked so the smoke would billow around them.
—Luke Leitch, Vogue, 21 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for billow 
Noun
After weeks of hype, much spin, great speculation and huge billows of hot air, two men seeking the White House will share a stage for 90 minutes Thursday night in Atlanta.
—Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2024
Flames and plumes of smoke billow over wrecked vehicles in the aftermath of the operation, according to footage taken at 1:10 p.m. local time and obtained by CNN.
—Mohammad Al Sawalhi, CNN, 26 June 2024
Verb
The shirt is a classic denim button-down in every way except for the sleeves, which are billowed to a daring degree.
—Clint Davis, Peoplemag, 25 June 2024
The models smoked so the smoke would billow around them.
—Luke Leitch, Vogue, 21 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for billow
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'billow.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near billow
Cite this Entry
“Billow.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/billow. Accessed 2 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
billow
1 of 2 noun
bil·low
ˈbil-ō 
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 verb1
: to rise or roll in waves
the billowing ocean
2
: to bulge or swell out
sails billowing in the breeze
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