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

According to the new research, selecting this boundary in any dimension boils down to a basic recipe. —Max Springer, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2024

Photo : Courtesy of Orsay Sea Salt Orsay Sea Salt Inner Hebrides, Scotland Scottish crabber and lobsterman Ashley Hock used to bring home jugs of seawater at the end of the day for his wife, Anna, to boil down into homemade salt. —Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 27 July 2024

The decision to remove the work boiled down to the phrase’s controversial nature and the exhibition’s location in a large Jewish community, Angulo said. —Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 8 July 2024

As specific as the inspiration is, that song makes for a nice overture, lyrically, to a lot of Isbell’s empathetic concerns, which sometimes boil down to: There but for the grace of God go we. —Chris Willman, Variety, 24 July 2024

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