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

Choosing between an induction or electric stovetop boils down to energy efficiency and costs. —Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 26 Dec. 2024

The problem boils down to a knowledge gap between consumers and sales agents. —Tomas Gorny, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024

According to media reports, the market for Burnes at that price has boiled down to just three teams, two of them in the American League East and one in the National League West. —Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 26 Dec. 2024

Aaron Stump with the Indiana Wildlife Federation said conversations around protecting the monarch have been going on for a while now, and a decision always boils down to how the rule will impact farmers and other stakeholders. —Karl Schneider, The Indianapolis Star, 23 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