boil over
verb
boiled over; boiling over; boils over
1
: to overflow while boiling
2
a
: to become violent or lose control because of anger
so frustrated he's ready to boil over
b
: to develop into something more violent
Their disagreement finally boiled over into a fight.
Examples of boil over in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Bring to boiling over medium-high; reduce heat.
—
Emily Teel, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 June 2026
Tensions also boiled over in the neighboring town of Newtown Abbey, where protesters set two cars alight, according to video geolocated by CNN, and in Kilkeel where another car was set on fire.
—Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 9 June 2026
Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
—Laura McLively, Mercury News, 8 June 2026
The fight boiled over on the Senate floor when a pair of Republican senators excoriated the court over its unanimous decision.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for boil over
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Emily Teel, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 June 2026
Tensions also boiled over in the neighboring town of Newtown Abbey, where protesters set two cars alight, according to video geolocated by CNN, and in Kilkeel where another car was set on fire.
—Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 9 June 2026
Bring to a gentle boil over medium heat, stirring occasionally.
—Laura McLively, Mercury News, 8 June 2026
The fight boiled over on the Senate floor when a pair of Republican senators excoriated the court over its unanimous decision.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 4 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for boil over
Cite this Entry
“Boil over.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boil%20over. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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