as in protruded
to extend outward beyond a usual point
the curtains in the open windows billowed in the summer wind
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Recent Examples of billowed
By the time the spill was finally capped, three months later, seven hundred and eighty million litres of crude had billowed into the water—the largest marine oil spill in history.
—
Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
Images and video posted online showed moments after the explosion as smoke plumes and flames billowed into the sky.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
Overnight visuals from local media showed flames engulfing a single-storey building, while thick smoke billowed from another section of the same complex.
—CNN Money, 16 Mar. 2026
Black smoke billowed from an industrial area in the business and tourism hub of Dubai, after a blaze that authorities said was sparked by debris from an interception.
—Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026
In the minutes after the attack, smoke billowed from the synagogue.
—Arkansas Online, 13 Mar. 2026
Huge booms were heard across the capital and large black smoke billowed from the Dahieh neighborhood in south Beirut, while an attack in central Beirut – where thousands of people are displaced – killed 8 people and injured 31, according to Lebanese officials.
—Npr Staff, NPR, 12 Mar. 2026
Smoke billowed from the roof as FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the scene involved both a vehicle ramming and active shooter situation.
—Corey Williams, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026
Smoke billowed from several fires that were burning on the boat.
—ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026
Jeffrey Marlow, New Yorker, 5 Apr. 2026
Images and video posted online showed moments after the explosion as smoke plumes and flames billowed into the sky.
—Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026
Overnight visuals from local media showed flames engulfing a single-storey building, while thick smoke billowed from another section of the same complex.
—CNN Money, 16 Mar. 2026
Black smoke billowed from an industrial area in the business and tourism hub of Dubai, after a blaze that authorities said was sparked by debris from an interception.
—Dallas Morning News, 13 Mar. 2026
In the minutes after the attack, smoke billowed from the synagogue.
—Arkansas Online, 13 Mar. 2026
Huge booms were heard across the capital and large black smoke billowed from the Dahieh neighborhood in south Beirut, while an attack in central Beirut – where thousands of people are displaced – killed 8 people and injured 31, according to Lebanese officials.
—Npr Staff, NPR, 12 Mar. 2026
Smoke billowed from the roof as FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the scene involved both a vehicle ramming and active shooter situation.
—Corey Williams, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026
Smoke billowed from several fires that were burning on the boat.
—ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for billowed
Verb
-
Or if a finger was so sliced open that the bone protruded.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Big, waxy flowers called lobster claws protruded from thick stalks.—
Betsy Andrews,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Thorns forward poked the ball through and Ball kicked her leg into Wilson’s path, taking her down inside the box.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Since then, the president has repeatedly poked at the vulnerability.—
Taryn Luna,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Apple engineers’ eyes bulged in astonishment.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Angelenos’ eyes bulged at the $1,500-a-head price tag.—
Sam Stone,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Billowed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/billowed. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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