simmered; simmering
ˈsi-mə-riŋ 
ˈsim-riŋ
1
: to stew gently below or just at the boiling point
: to cook slowly in a liquid just below the boiling point
Examples of simmer in a Sentence
Verb
Simmer the stew for 40 minutes or until the sauce has thickened.
The chicken was simmered in a cream sauce.
The dispute simmered for years before any progress was made.
It's a debate that has simmered for 30 years and is likely to continue.
Long-simmering tensions between the two groups eventually sparked violence.
Noun
Bring the mixture to a simmer.
Recent Examples on the Web
David Ingram, NBC news, 26 Apr. 2026
The eruptions – yours, the partner’s – suggest that there’s a lot that’s been simmering underneath your interactions.
—R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
As tensions around immigration simmer, their relationship puts both of them at risk.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for simmer
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Verb
OpenAI is locked in a heated battle with Anthropic and Google for leadership in the AI market, trying to get both consumers and business customers hooked on chatbots and other AI tools, while public anger over AI continues to simmer as evidenced by a recent attack on Altman’s home.
—David Ingram, NBC news, 26 Apr. 2026
The eruptions – yours, the partner’s – suggest that there’s a lot that’s been simmering underneath your interactions.
—R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
Noun
Bring to a simmer and gently cook for 1½ hours or until soft.
—Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026
As tensions around immigration simmer, their relationship puts both of them at risk.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for simmer
Cite this Entry
“Simmer.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/simmer. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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