plural boxes
1
: a rigid typically rectangular container with or without a cover
a cigar box
: such as
a
: an open cargo container of a vehicle
b
: coffin
2
: the contents of a box especially as a measure of quantity
3
: an often small space, compartment, or enclosure: such as
a
: an enclosed group of seats for spectators (as in a theater or stadium)
b
: a cell for holding mail
c
d
: a driver's seat on a carriage or coach
e
British
: box stall
4
: a box or boxlike container and its contents: such as
a
: a usually self-contained piece of electronic equipment
b
c
: a signaling apparatus
alarm box
d
: an automobile transmission
e
British
: a gift in a box
f
: boom box
5
: a usually rectangular space that is frequently outlined or demarcated on a surface: such as
a
: a space on a page for printed matter or in which to make a mark
b
: any of six spaces on a baseball diamond where the batter, coaches, pitcher, and catcher stand
c
: the intersection of two roads especially when treated as an area where vehicles are prohibited from stopping because doing so would interfere with traffic flow
Don't block the box.
6
: the limitations of conventionality
trying to think outside the box
7
: a cubical building
8
British
: cup sense 5b
I like to use a pair of trousers which have a lot more room in them so that they give me far more freedom of movement. They also make it easier to put in a thigh pad and box.—
Glenn Turner
Glenn Turner9
: predicament, fix
boxed; boxing; boxes
1
: to enclose in or as if in a box
2
: to hem in (someone, such as an opponent)
—usually used with in, out, or up
boxed out the tackle
boxed; boxing; boxes
: to fight with the fists : engage in boxing
1
: to hit (something, especially someone's ears) with the hand
2
: to engage in boxing with
: a punch or slap especially on the ear
plural box or boxes
: an evergreen shrub or small tree (genus Buxus of the family Buxaceae, the box family) with opposite entire leaves and capsular fruits
especially
: a widely cultivated shrub (B. sempervirens) used for hedges, borders, and topiary figures
boxed; boxing; boxes
: to name the 32 points of (the compass) in their order
—used figuratively in the phrase box the compass to describe making a complete reversal
Examples of box in a Sentence
Noun (1)
filled a whole box with books
the only way I'm ever leaving this hospital room is in a box
would you switch on the box so that we can watch the news?
with our new home still unfinished, and the buyers of our condo eager to move in, we were in a real box
Verb (1)
upon attempting to leave, we discovered we were completely boxed in by other cars
Verb (2)
his mother threatened to box his ears if he didn't show a bit more respect
Noun (2)
the vicious bully delivered a box to the child's ear
Recent Examples on the Web
Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 15 May 2025
Dryer, hotter weather in Russia, exacerbated by climate change, create tinder box conditions that can cause a small fire to spread rapidly.
—Caitlin Danaher, CNN Money, 14 May 2025
Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025
But a few days later it was reported that Garcia had tested positive for ostarine, a performance-enhancing drug, the day before the fight, and he was banned from boxing for a year.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for box
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Tall, handsome, and polite, Benny—played by Benito Skinner—checks a near-comical number of boxes: valedictorian, football player, homecoming king.
—Inkoo Kang, New Yorker, 15 May 2025
Dryer, hotter weather in Russia, exacerbated by climate change, create tinder box conditions that can cause a small fire to spread rapidly.
—Caitlin Danaher, CNN Money, 14 May 2025
Verb
The following month, on June 17, Lopez, Gonzalez and other conspirators allegedly followed two other victims from that same casino, forcing them to stop their car at the Interstate 710 off ramp to Florence Avenue by boxing them in, according to the indictment.
—Brittny Mejia, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025
But a few days later it was reported that Garcia had tested positive for ostarine, a performance-enhancing drug, the day before the fight, and he was banned from boxing for a year.
—Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 6 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for box
Cite this Entry
“Box.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/box. Accessed 28 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
box
1 of 5 noun
plural box or boxes
: an evergreen shrub or small tree used especially for hedges
box
2 of 5 noun1
a
: a container usually having four sides, a bottom, and a cover
b
: the amount held by a box
ate a whole box of popcorn
2
: a small compartment for a group of spectators in a theater
3
: the driver's seat on a carriage
4
: a shed that protects
5
: a container (as for a car transmission) that resembles a box
6
: a rectangle which encloses and draws attention to something printed
7
: a space on a baseball diamond where a batter, coach, pitcher, or catcher stands
8
: the limits of ordinariness
thinking outside the box
box
3 of 5 verb
: to enclose in or as if in a box
box
4 of 5 noun
: a punch or slap especially on the ear
box
5 of 5 verb1
: to strike with the hand
2
: to engage in boxing : fight with the fists
Etymology
Noun
Old English box "box (shrub)," from Latin buxus (same meaning), from Greek pyxos "box tree"
Noun
Old English box "container," from Latin buxis (same meaning), from Greek pyxis, literally, "a container made from boxwood"
Noun
Middle English box "a blow or slap on the ear"
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