box in

phrasal verb

boxed in; boxing in; boxes in
: to surround (someone or something) and make movement difficult
The other bicyclists boxed her in and she couldn't move ahead.
usually used as (be) boxed in
We were boxed in and couldn't get out of our parking space.
sometimes used figuratively
I feel boxed in by all these rules.

Examples of box in in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The server, a capricious machine with a battery of hard drives, occupied a soundproof box in his home studio. Julian Lucas, The New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2025 The truck is a white 2008 Chevrolet Silverado with a chrome tool box in the bed. Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Feb. 2025 If prices for eggs and other everyday items were rising because of tariffs, that could box in the Fed. Damian J. Troise, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025 Guests of the president and the first lady are seated in the first lady's box in the gallery. Javier Zarracina, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for box in

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Cite this Entry

“Box in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/box%20in. Accessed 28 Mar. 2025.

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