What does "simmer" mean?
The state or process of simmering.
Simmer
/ˈsɪmɚ/ name, noun, verb, slang
name, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The state or process of simmering.
- Grammar: simmer is listed as name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: bake, barbecue, baste, be in heat.
- Useful contrasts: accelerate, boil, boiling.
- Usage evidence: Done! Now I just have to set it to simmer so it doesn't boil before everybody comes.
How to use "simmer"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "simmer" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "simmer" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "simmer" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "simmer" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "simmer" is acting as name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "bake" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "simmer", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The state or process of simmering.
"The kettle was kept on the simmer."
- 2 Someone who plays a sim (a simulation game), particularly The Sims. informal
- 3 A fan of the video game series The Sims. slang
- 4 temperature just below the boiling point wordnet
Verb
- 1 To cook or undergo heating slowly at or below the boiling point. intransitive
"The soup simmered on the stove."
- 2 boil slowly at low temperature wordnet
- 3 To cause to cook or to cause to undergo heating slowly at or below the boiling point. transitive
"Simmer the soup for five minutes, then serve."
- 4 To be on the point of breaking out into anger; to be agitated. figuratively, intransitive
"Maybe that really did happen, and Robin's anger at his wife had simmered for this long?"
- 5 To remain angry with someone or something past the point of exhaustion; to resign oneself to holding a grudge, especially after some failed attempts to resolve a situation. figuratively, intransitive
"I tried to get through to him; all that's left for me to do is simmer."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 To develop gradually, of an idea or plan. figuratively, intransitive
"The idea for The Sims was one that had been simmering in Wright's mind for quite some time, and was initially conceived as an architecture simulation."
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname from German.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Done! Now I just have to set it to simmer so it doesn't boil before everybody comes."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "simmer"?
Common synonyms include: bake, barbecue, baste, be in heat, be livid, be pissed.
How do you use "simmer" in a sentence?
Done! Now I just have to set it to simmer so it doesn't boil before everybody comes.
How do you pronounce "simmer"?
Pronounced /ˈsɪmɚ/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From alteration of dialectal simper, from Middle English simperen (“to simmer”), of possibly imitative origin. First attested in the intransitive sense. The noun is from the verb. First attested in the late 15ᵗʰ century.
Etymology 2
From sim (“simulation”, noun) + -er.
Etymology 3
From Sim + -er.
Etymology 4
Borrowed from German Simmer or a variant of Summer.