as in protrudes
to extend outward beyond a usual point
the curtains in the open windows billowed in the summer wind
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of billows
Charlene Gubash, NBC news, 24 Mar. 2026
Chopper 4 captured the huge billows of smoke coming out of his home located at NW 27th Court and 172nd Terrace, with flames billowing through a large hole in the roof.
—Abby Dodge, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Father and son, both members of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe, stare out at a sea of green grass and buffalo berry bushes as a herd of 30 or so bison munch patches of grass, flick their tails at flies, and flop onto the ground, creating brief billows of dust.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 5 Mar. 2026
Rol has so far counted 148 vehicles burned by the fire, which produced billows of black smoke visible from across metro Denver.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 27 Feb. 2026
Three seconds later, the Honda crashes into a parked car with such force its tires fly off the street, the pile of cars lurches forward several feet and snow billows.
—Claire Galofaro, Fortune, 9 Jan. 2026
By night, fires dot the serene landscape and smoke billows from chimneys as guests sip cocktails and cocoa or take a sleigh ride over powdery, sparkling snow.
—Wendy O'Dea, Robb Report, 28 Dec. 2025
Prayer mats lie next to heavy artillery; smoke billows from parked whips; backstabbers get cut first.
—Pitchfork, 10 Dec. 2025
Passersby stared as billows of smoke rose into the air above the White House as part of the home shared by the United States president and his family crumbled to the ground.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
Charlene Gubash, NBC news, 24 Mar. 2026
In Kelmscott House—Morris’s own Georgian mansion in Hammersmith, London—a 17th-century Iranian carpet billows from the ceiling in the dining room.
—Lila Allen, Architectural Digest, 10 Feb. 2026
Thick black smoke billows from a South El Monte recycling plant as Los Angeles County Fire Department crews are attempting to control the flames consuming the large building complex.
—Julie Sharp, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
Smoke billows from the Lyondell Basell Houston refinery in Texas in 2024.
—Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
It’s presented in a treasure chest with smoke protruding as the chest opens, slowly displaying the cocktail itself as the smoke billows into the patron’s face, preparing their nostrils for the smokey aroma ahead.
—Andrew Watman, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
In the portrait, taken in the last few weeks, black smoke billows behind her as her fuchsia headscarf billows in the wind behind her.
—Charlene Gubash, NBC news, 24 Mar. 2026
Chopper 4 captured the huge billows of smoke coming out of his home located at NW 27th Court and 172nd Terrace, with flames billowing through a large hole in the roof.
—Abby Dodge, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2026
Father and son, both members of the Eastern Shoshone Tribe, stare out at a sea of green grass and buffalo berry bushes as a herd of 30 or so bison munch patches of grass, flick their tails at flies, and flop onto the ground, creating brief billows of dust.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 5 Mar. 2026
Rol has so far counted 148 vehicles burned by the fire, which produced billows of black smoke visible from across metro Denver.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 27 Feb. 2026
Three seconds later, the Honda crashes into a parked car with such force its tires fly off the street, the pile of cars lurches forward several feet and snow billows.
—Claire Galofaro, Fortune, 9 Jan. 2026
By night, fires dot the serene landscape and smoke billows from chimneys as guests sip cocktails and cocoa or take a sleigh ride over powdery, sparkling snow.
—Wendy O'Dea, Robb Report, 28 Dec. 2025
Prayer mats lie next to heavy artillery; smoke billows from parked whips; backstabbers get cut first.
—Pitchfork, 10 Dec. 2025
Passersby stared as billows of smoke rose into the air above the White House as part of the home shared by the United States president and his family crumbled to the ground.
—Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
In the portrait, taken in the last few weeks, black smoke billows behind her as her fuchsia headscarf billows in the wind behind her.
—Charlene Gubash, NBC news, 24 Mar. 2026
In Kelmscott House—Morris’s own Georgian mansion in Hammersmith, London—a 17th-century Iranian carpet billows from the ceiling in the dining room.
—Lila Allen, Architectural Digest, 10 Feb. 2026
Thick black smoke billows from a South El Monte recycling plant as Los Angeles County Fire Department crews are attempting to control the flames consuming the large building complex.
—Julie Sharp, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
Smoke billows from the Lyondell Basell Houston refinery in Texas in 2024.
—Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
It’s presented in a treasure chest with smoke protruding as the chest opens, slowly displaying the cocktail itself as the smoke billows into the patron’s face, preparing their nostrils for the smokey aroma ahead.
—Andrew Watman, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for billows
Noun
-
On the Island of the Gods, fresh ideas arrive like waves, creating a glorious cocktail of cultures and influences.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Planes don’t crash during turbulence because their wings continuously generate lift and the surrounding air remains intact, similarly to a boat riding waves.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Part of it protrudes from the exterior, with natural airflow helping keep the food inside chilled.—
Adam Williams
March 29,
New Atlas,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The lone camera is a single round lens that protrudes from the upper-left corner of the rear panel.—
Eric Zeman,
PC Magazine,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Just offshore, 50 surfers caught swells.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Only 2200 of them remain, having staved off swells of economic uncertainty, retaining their Irish accents and ways of life.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Your 6th House of Health takes focus with the nurturing Moon there, though Luna also pokes expensive Jupiter in your 3rd House of Distractions.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
-
In April, ruby-red paintbrush pokes out of the ground, and in late summer, vibrant yellow rabbitbrush flowers join the mix.—
Madison Chapman,
Outside,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), a brain aneurysm is a weakened area in an artery that bulges outward and fills with blood.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Billows.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/billows. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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