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

But longtime plunge aficionados say the allure often boils down to one primal need: community. —Karissa Waddick, USA TODAY, 29 Dec. 2024

Celebrity makeup artist Amrita Mehta emphasizes that the quality of mascaras boils down to compatibility rather than price. —Kiana Murden, Vogue, 28 Dec. 2024

These mitigations can, in fact, be boiled down to one key takeaway: implement a multi-layered verification system. —Davey Winder, Forbes, 27 Dec. 2024

Buchholz says some of Snoopy’s appeal boils down to the way Schulz drew him. —Victoria Edel, People.com, 19 Dec. 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