English Reference
Noun

sizzle

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈsɪzəɫ/ UK /sˈɪzəl/ siz·zle UK spelling sizzled, sizzles

n.the sound of something cooking in hot oil or the way it makes a loud noise when it hits a pan. It can also describe a person who is very attractive or exciting.

n.the hissing sound produced by food cooking in hot fat or by water hitting a hot surface. In informal contexts, it refers to a person who is sexually attractive or possesses a high level of energy.


SIMPLE

The sizzle of the bacon filled the kitchen.

CONTEXTUAL

The chef added the garlic to the pan just as the oil began to sizzle.

COMPLEX

The restaurant was famous for its signature dish, which was served with a dramatic sizzle of butter over the open flame to the delight of the diners.

Producer Switch clearly knew what to do, the songwriting was strong, Khan’s voice still sizzles.

The Guardian· 27 Aug 2026

Probably a derivative of Middle English sissen (“to hiss; buzz; hum”), equivalent to siss + -le (frequentative suffix).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Middle English sissen
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated