simmer down

verb

simmered down; simmering down; simmers down
Synonyms of simmer downnext

intransitive verb

1
: to become calm or peaceful
2
: to become reduced by or as if by simmering

Examples of simmer down in a Sentence

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.
But the crisis has simmered down, at least for now. — Kostya Manenkov, Los Angeles Times, 25 Mar. 2026 But the crisis has simmered down, at least for now. — ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026 Soon enough things simmer down, and Vlad falls asleep in the guest room. — Meg Walters, Glamour, 9 Mar. 2026 If tension rises, suggest a short break to let things simmer down. — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for simmer down

Word History

First Known Use

1842, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of simmer down was in 1842

Rhymes for simmer down

See All Rhymes for simmer down

Browse Nearby Words

simmer
simmer down
simmon
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Simmer down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/simmer%20down. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

simmer down

verb
1
: to become calm or peaceful
2
: to become reduced by or as if by simmering
a broth simmered down to half

More from Merriam-Webster on simmer down

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for simmer down

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All