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
Christopher Murray, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Even in the immediate build-up to the goal, Salah, inside the six-yard box, nudged Van Dijk’s header onto the post and Diogo Jota hit the crossbar.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025
Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 21 Apr. 2025
His administration has said its tariffs would enable trade negotiations that would box out China, the world’s dominant manufacturer.
—Colleen Barry and Josh Boak, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for box
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Noun
Grab a few of these boxes and put them side-by-side to create a larger privacy fence.
—Christopher Murray, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2025
Even in the immediate build-up to the goal, Salah, inside the six-yard box, nudged Van Dijk’s header onto the post and Diogo Jota hit the crossbar.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
Those agreements effectively boxed out Google's rivals, the DOJ said.
—Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 21 Apr. 2025
His administration has said its tariffs would enable trade negotiations that would box out China, the world’s dominant manufacturer.
—Colleen Barry and Josh Boak, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 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 4 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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