Word
simmer
Phoneticssim·mer, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈsɪmɝ/
UK/sˈɪmɐ/
Definitions
01to cook gently
B2 · Upper Intermediate Cooking
v. to cook food in liquid that is almost boiling, with small bubbles appearing slowly.
v. to cook or heat a liquid at or just below the boiling point, characterized by the gentle formation of bubbles.
“Let the soup simmer for twenty minutes to let the flavours develop.”
“The chef instructed the apprentice to let the stock simmer overnight, ensuring the heat remained low enough to prevent a rolling boil.”
Antonyms
02to develop an idea
C2 · Proficiency Literary
v. to let a plan or idea develop slowly in your mind.
v. to develop gradually or remain in a state of quiet activity, often referring to ideas, plans, or conflicts.
“The idea for her new book had been simmering in her mind for years.”
“While the revolution appeared sudden, the underlying social unrest had been simmering for decades under the surface of the regime.”
03a gentle boil
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Cooking
n. the state of a liquid when it is cooking very gently.
n. the state or process of simmering; a temperature just below the boiling point.
“Bring the sauce to a simmer and then add the herbs.”
“Once the liquid reaches a gentle simmer, reduce the heat to the lowest setting and cover the pot tightly.”
04a fan of The Sims
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Computing Informal · Slang
n. a person who loves playing the video game 'The Sims'.
n. a dedicated player or enthusiast of the life-simulation video game series 'The Sims'.
“As a lifelong Simmer, she has spent hundreds of hours building digital houses.”
“The online community of Simmers reacted with excitement to the announcement of the new expansion pack.”
Usage
The verb can be used both transitively ('simmer the sauce') and intransitively ('the sauce simmers').
Pitfall
simmer the water to a boil
bring the water to a boil
Simmering refers to a temperature lower than boiling; you cannot simmer something 'to' a boil.
Real-World Examples
“Today, it is simmered with Sbrinz, a flavourful Parmesan-type cheese, then topped with a sprig of parsley.” Etymology
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.
From sim (“simulation”, noun) + -er.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
01. simmer down
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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