boiling point

noun

1
: the temperature at which a liquid boils
2
a
: the point at which a person becomes uncontrollably angry
b
: the point of crisis : head sense 17b
matters had reached the boiling point

Examples of boiling point in a Sentence

The boiling point of water is 212° Fahrenheit or 100° Celsius. when the situation reached the boiling point, the President had no choice but to order out the National Guard
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Related article Two transgender girls sue to challenge Trump’s executive order banning them from girls’ school sports The Stonewall riots erupted as the gay rights movement of the 1960s was building momentum across the United States and frustrations were reaching a boiling point. Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN, 13 Feb. 2025 The situation reached a boiling point following a Friday press conference by Fuji TV president Koichi Minato that drew widespread criticism for its lack of transparency. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 Jan. 2025 Friday’s game was a cathartic one for a Sabres team and fan base that had nearly reached its boiling point just a few days earlier. Mark Lazerus, The Athletic, 27 Dec. 2024 Their sibling tension reached a boiling point at a recent family dinner after her parents announced plans for a vacation to celebrate their anniversary. Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Newsweek, 5 Feb. 2025 See all Example Sentences for boiling point 

Word History

First Known Use

1741, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of boiling point was in 1741

Dictionary Entries Near boiling point

Cite this Entry

“Boiling point.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boiling%20point. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

boiling point

noun
1
: the temperature at which a liquid boils
2
: the point at which a person becomes uncontrollably angry
3
: the point of crisis

Medical Definition

boiling point

noun
boil·​ing point ˈbȯi-liŋ-ˌpȯint How to pronounce boiling point (audio)
: the temperature at which a liquid boils

More from Merriam-Webster on boiling point

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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