Find Synonyms
billow Synonyms
Another word for billow
Choosing another word for billow depends on context, so the 16 synonyms and similar words below are separated across 4 exact definitions and ranked by match strength.
• verb (Context 1)
To fill with air and swell outward (especially of fabric, sails, or garments).
Usage Example
"The linen curtains billowed inward as a cool evening breeze swept through the open window."
Strongest
swell
Strong
balloon
puff out
bulge
inflate
• verb (Context 2)
To rise, roll, or move outward in large undulating masses (especially of smoke, clouds, or mist).
Usage Example
"Thick gray smoke billowed from the chimney of the old stone cottage."
Strong
roll
surge
swirl
undulate
Weak
pour
• noun (Context 3)
A large, undulating mass of something, typically cloud, smoke, or steam.
Usage Example
"Great billows of white steam rose from the locomotive as it pulled into the station."
Strong
cloud
plume
Weak
bank
• noun (Context 4)
A large, rolling wave or swell of water in the sea.
Usage Example
"The wooden schooner pitched and rolled across the foaming billows of the North Atlantic."
Strongest
wave
Strong
swell
roller
breaker
surge
Opposites of billow
The opposite of billow shifts depending on context. Common opposites include:
deflate
collapse
dissipate
flatten
subside
shrivel
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Synonyms for Billow. In Wordmom Thesaurus. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/synonyms/billow