simmer
B2Neutral, used in both casual and technical (culinary) contexts.
Definition
Meaning
To cook in liquid at or just below the boiling point, with gentle, slow bubbles forming and rising to the surface.
To be in a state of suppressed anger, excitement, or activity; to develop slowly and steadily.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a verb. The core cooking sense is concrete and literal. The extended emotional/tension sense is metaphorical, implying something is kept just below the point of eruption.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. Both use 'simmer' in all senses. The culinary instruction 'simmer gently' is slightly more common in British recipes.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] simmer[NP] simmer [PP] (e.g., in broth)[NP] simmer [for + TIME][NP] simmer [with + EMOTION]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “simmer down (calm down)”
- “simmer with rage”
- “bring to a simmer”
- “keep on a simmer”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Metaphorical: 'Tensions have been simmering between the two departments for months.'
Academic
Rare in hard sciences; used in social sciences/history: 'The rebellion simmered for years before erupting.'
Everyday
Common in cooking instructions and describing emotions: 'Let the soup simmer for a bit.' / 'He was simmering after the argument.'
Technical
Precise culinary term indicating a specific temperature range (typically 85-95°C / 185-205°F).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Simmer the lentils for half an hour until soft.
- The dispute has been simmering for weeks.
- Simmer down, there's no need to shout.
American English
- Let the sauce simmer on low for 20 minutes.
- Resentment simmered beneath the surface of the community.
- I told him to simmer down and talk it out.
adverb
British English
- Cook the onions simmer for five minutes.
American English
- The debate continued simmer for the duration of the meeting.
adjective
British English
- Bring the mixture to a simmer heat.
- A simmer resentment affected their work.
American English
- Maintain a simmer temperature.
- The simmer tension in the room was palpable.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The soup is hot. Let it simmer for five minutes.
- He was very angry but just simmered quietly.
- Add the vegetables and simmer the stew for about an hour.
- After the argument, she left the room to simmer down.
- Once the sauce reaches a boil, reduce the heat and let it simmer gently.
- Political tensions have been simmering in the region for decades.
- The novel's plot simmers with underlying menace before its shocking climax.
- The policy was the result of ideas that had simmered within the committee for years.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a SIMILAR pot to boiling, but with Smaller, Slower bubbles - it's SIMmering.
Conceptual Metaphor
ANGER/EXCITEMENT IS A HEATED LIQUID ('simmer with rage', 'simmering excitement').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводить всегда как 'кипеть'. 'Boil' - это бурное кипение, 'simmer' - томиться, медленно кипеть на слабом огне.
- В эмоциональном смысле 'simmer' часто соответствует 'кипеть (от злости)', но без явного внешнего проявления, а 'seethe' сильнее.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'simmer' to mean rapid boiling. Incorrect: *'The water simmered violently.' Correct: 'The water boiled violently.'
- Confusing 'simmer down' (to calm down) with 'cool down' (to lose heat or temper).
Practice
Quiz
In the phrase 'He was simmering with jealousy,' what does 'simmering' most closely mean?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Simmering occurs at a lower temperature (85-95°C) with small, gentle bubbles. Boiling occurs at 100°C with large, rapid, rolling bubbles. Simmering is gentler and prevents food from breaking apart.
Yes, though less common. As a noun, it means the state or temperature of simmering (e.g., 'Bring the pot to a simmer,' 'Keep the sauce at a low simmer').
Primarily, yes. It's an informal phrasal verb meaning to become calm after being angry or excited. It's not used for physical cooling.
Typically negative (anger, resentment, tension), but it can be neutral or positive when describing sustained, low-level activity or excitement (e.g., 'Excitement simmered before the festival.').