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 The report was published as the situation in Israel’s north remains extremely tense, with the Israeli military and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah ramping up cross-border attacks, which risk boiling over into a full-scale war. Amy Cassidy, CNN, 2 July 2024 If there is a point in the month where some of this tension could boil over, be on the lookout for hot tempers, jealousies, and confrontations mid-month, particularly between July 11 and 15. Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 June 2024 Two hours fly by, and suddenly Torch is on the scene, lighting firebombs and boiling over kettle after kettle so the chefs can serve their food to the six All Stars; Kristen, Tom, Gail, and Art; and 100 diners. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 22 May 2024 Bring mixture to a full rolling boil over high heat, stirring constantly. Bhg Test Kitchen, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 May 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 27 Jul. 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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