Meaning & use
the billows
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Meaning
nounpluralliterary
Large rolling waves of the sea, or a great swelling mass of something like smoke or cloud.
Grammar: Always used in the plural with 'the' in this literary sense; the singular 'billow' is rare.
Patterns
- the billows of the sea
- the billows of smoke
The ship struggled against the billows of the stormy sea.
Billows of smoke rose from the burning building.
The billows rolled onto the shore, one after another.
Word forms
| singular | billow |
|---|
Common combinations
- billows of smoke
- Billows of smoke filled the sky after the explosion.
- the billows of the sea
- The billows of the sea crashed against the rocks.
- billowing clouds
- Billowing clouds gathered before the storm.
Synonyms and how they differ
- waves
- The everyday word for moving water; 'billows' is more literary and suggests large, rolling waves.
- surge
- A sudden powerful movement, often of water or emotion; 'billows' specifically suggests a swelling, rolling mass.
Word family
Commonly confused: the billows or billions?
the billows vs billions
A number (1,000,000,000). 'Billows' sounds similar but means large waves or masses.
Practice
What does 'the billows' most likely refer to in a poem?
Choose one answer.
'Billows' are large, rolling waves or swelling masses, often used in literary descriptions of the sea or smoke. It does not mean small ripples or a bird.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “the billows”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.