billow 1 of 2

noun

ˈbi-(ˌ)lō How to pronounce billow (audio)
Definition of billownext
as in wave
a moving ridge on the surface of water the great billows created by the ocean storm threatened to swamp the fishing boat

Synonyms & Similar Words

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billow

2 of 2

verb

as in to protrude
to extend outward beyond a usual point the curtains in the open windows billowed in the summer wind

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of billow
Noun
Smoke billows from a beekeeper's canister, paralyzing the colony just enough to reveal the intricate operation. — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2026 Video footage of the crash's aftermath obtained by NBC shows the vehicle significantly engulfed in orange flames emitting billows of black smoke. — Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
Verb
The storm built until the walls and floor were covered with pale gray particles, billowing like smoke, then tessellating in triangles. — Max Norman, New Yorker, 25 June 2026 The lower Hudson River was, for a few hours, blanketed in billowing fabric. — Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 30 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for billow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for billow
  1. wave
  2. protrude
  3. swell
  4. poke
  5. bulge
Noun
  • The first wave of Social Security payments for July is scheduled to be distributed this week.
    — Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 6 July 2026
  • SoCal’s housing market growth SpaceX’s record-shattering IPO has unleashed a wave of high-end home shoppers poised to reshape Southern California’s already tight coastal housing markets.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
Definition of wave
Verb
  • The abdomen may significantly protrude, pushing the diaphragm upward and making breathing more difficult.
    — Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Rugged slabs of rock speckled with glaciers and snowfields protrude through the clouds and overlook the entry to Grand Teton National Park.
    — Josh Laskin, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026
Definition of protrude
Noun
  • Options for activities include paddleboarding and chasing Arctic swells in the fjords, sailing through sea cliffs and the uninhabited Hornstrandir Nature Reserve, and spotting whales, seals, Arctic foxes, and more wildlife.
    — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 28 June 2026
  • Since its 2022 introduction, Ryder's Law has received a swell of support from local and national animal welfare groups; NYC legislators, including former mayor Eric Adams; and a slew of celebrities such as Billie Eilish, Ricky Gervais, Marisa Tomei and Christopher Walken.
    — ANDREA SACHS THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 28 June 2026
Definition of swell
Verb
  • Calderón, a big, bald man wearing a gold chain and cross-shaped earrings, sat off to the side, amid an entourage of muscular assistants in polo shirts, poking at his phone.
    — Will Freeman, New Yorker, 30 June 2026
  • Find a location with an unobstructed view to the southeast, where the full moon’s orangey disk will poke above the horizon minutes after the moonrise time — though exactly when depends on local terrain and buildings.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of poke
Verb
  • Monday’s home run props will hopefully right the ship and bulge the profits, creating more wiggle room for another drought.
    — Josh Shepardson, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026
  • Schoenaerts menacingly grins his way through the movie, with appealingly bulging eyes.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 June 2026
Definition of bulge

Browse Nearby Words

bill of fare
billow
billowed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Billow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/billow. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on billow

Nglish: Translation of billow for Spanish Speakers

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