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 Diffusing situations While managers can be proactive in keeping employees focused on the job at hand, and creating a culture of civility and respect, there are times when political differences may nonetheless boil over. Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2024 Bring to a boil over medium-high; reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until flavors meld, about 30 minutes. Liv Dansky, Southern Living, 11 Oct. 2024 Boil water: Add 1-2 inches of water to the same medium saucepan; bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Darcy Lenz, Southern Living, 9 Oct. 2024 But Biden’s frustration with Netanyahu boiled over as the war continued to escalate. Cnn.com Wire Service, The Mercury News, 8 Oct. 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 Nov. 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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