boil over

verb

boiled over; boiling over; boils over

intransitive verb

1
: to overflow while boiling
2
: to become so incensed as to lose one's temper
boilover noun

Examples of boil over in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web If things go awry, the staff looks for ways to defuse the tension quickly, without letting things boil over. Katie Kelly Bell, Robb Report, 21 Sep. 2024 Combine carrots and enough water to cover by 1 inch in medium saucepan and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Judy Bart Kancigor, Orange County Register, 12 Sep. 2024 Africa’s third largest country cannot be allowed to disintegrate while the world averts its gaze, with so many other crises boiling over. Kholood Khair, TIME, 4 Sep. 2024 The hearing ended on a contentious note as prosecutors’ frustration with the defense arguments seemed to boil over. Devlin Barrett, Washington Post, 25 June 2024 See all Example Sentences for boil over 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'boil over.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of boil over was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near boil over

Cite this Entry

“Boil over.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boil%20over. Accessed 5 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

boil over

verb
1
: to overflow while boiling
2
: to become so angry as to lose one's temper

More from Merriam-Webster on boil over

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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