boil away
B1 neutral inseparable both
In simple words
To slowly disappear as steam while something is being boiled — like water in a pot getting less and less.
Literal meaning: To boil until the liquid goes away (evaporates).
Meanings
1 B1 neutral
(Of a liquid) To be reduced or disappear completely through prolonged boiling.
"I forgot about the pot on the stove and all the water had boiled away by the time I returned."
Grammar: inseparable
2 B1 neutral
To continue boiling steadily over a period of time.
"Leave the stock to boil away on a low heat for about an hour."
Grammar: inseparable
Usage notes
Common in cooking contexts. Also used scientifically to describe the evaporation of liquid during a chemical process. The intransitive form ('the water boiled away') is more common than the transitive ('boil away the liquid').
Commonly used with
water liquid sauce broth alcohol solvent
Forms
Base
boil away
I/you/we/they
3rd person
boils away
he/she/it
Past simple
boiled away
yesterday
Past participle
boiled away
have + pp
-ing form
boiling away
continuous
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Synonyms
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