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

Synonyms

• crisis
• crossroad(s)
• breaking point
• head
• flash 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

If Brisson is indeed speaking for his client, then there is reason to believe that Crosby’s frustration with the current state of the Penguins is at a boiling point. —Josh Yohe, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025

Only, his side of the story suggests that this summer was the boiling point of a longer game, dating back to last summer when contract promises were reneged upon. —Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025

That was the boiling point for the Cowboys. —Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Aug. 2025

Tipping the scales back and forth, Russell blurs the line between fan and celebrity entirely, upping the mutual desperation to an unpredictable boiling point. —Eric Torres, Pitchfork, 27 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1741, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for boiling point

• counterpoint
• disappoint
• multipoint
• needlepoint
• reappoint
• adjoint
• anoint
• appoint
• checkpoint
• conjoint
• disjoint
• endpoint

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 

: the temperature at which a liquid boils