simmer

B2 Topic:Cooking & Baking

US /ˈsɪmɚ/ UK /ˈsɪmə/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like shimmer /s/ vs /ʃ/

Meanings

1

verb
to cook gently just below boiling point

Let the soup simmer for 30 minutes.
2

verb
to be in a state of suppressed anger or excitement

He was simmering with resentment.
3

verb
to develop slowly over time

Tensions have been simmering for weeks.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Multiword verbs with simmer

simmer down Phrasal verb B2

to become calmer after anger or excitement

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to cook gently just below... stew poach braiseslow-cookbubble

2 verb · to be in a state of... seethe fume smolderrage quietlyboil over

3 verb · to develop slowly over time brewbuild upferment unfold evolve

Opposites

boil freeze

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

simmer down
to become calmer after anger or excitement

Verb + adverb

Etymology

From Old English *simmerian ('to make soft by boiling'), via Middle English simeren ('to boil gently') into Modern English simmer ('to cook gently just below boiling').

Topics

Cooking & Baking Actions & Processes

External links

# simmer

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈsɪmɚ/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈsɪmə/

## Meanings
1. to cook gently just below boiling point
2. to be in a state of suppressed anger or excitement
3. to develop slowly over time

## Examples
- Let the soup simmer for 30 minutes.
- He was simmering with resentment.
- Tensions have been simmering for weeks.

## Synonyms
- stew
- poach
- braise
- slow-cook
- bubble
- seethe
- fume
- smolder
- brew
- build up
- ferment
- unfold

## Antonyms
- boil
- freeze

## Etymology
From Old English *simmerian ('to make soft by boiling'), via Middle English simeren ('to boil gently') into Modern English simmer ('to cook gently just below boiling').

## AI Etymology
Simmer comes from Old English *simmerian ('to make soft by boiling'), via Middle English simeren ('to boil gently') into Modern English simmer ('to cook gently just below boiling'). In current use it is a verb meaning "to cook gently just below boiling point". That sense is explained by the older material without requiring a speculative semantic step: the inherited or borrowed base supplies the field of meaning, while the English formation fixes its modern role. The history is mainly one of transmission into English, with the older form and sense carried through borrowing or adaptation. For dictionary purposes, the important point is the continuity between the older form, the route into English, and the present lexical sense.

## Topics
- Cooking & Baking
- Actions & Processes

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