box in

verb

boxed in; boxing in; boxes in

: to surround (someone or something) and make movement difficult

The other bicyclists boxed her in and she couldn't move ahead.

—usually used as (be) boxed in

We were boxed in and couldn't get out of our parking space.

—sometimes used figuratively

I feel boxed in by all these rules.

Examples of box in in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the last moment of the episode, Alice follows her instinct to a Safe Surrender box in an area near the old Candlelight Lounge location. — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026

Having only launched last year, this complex scent can’t quite be boxed in as a floral fragrance alone. — Kiana Murden, Vogue, 7 Aug. 2026

Even so, the office encouraged voters to hand deliver their mail-in ballots to an in-person voting place or to any of four local drop boxes in the county instead of sending them through the mail. — Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 7 Aug. 2026

And across the conversation, that refusal to be boxed in becomes the closest thing Vietnam‘s newest idol group has to a mission statement. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026

Rhymes for box in

• coxon
• oxen
• tocsin
• toxin
• aflatoxin
• antitoxin
• digitoxin
• endotoxin
• exotoxin
• ferredoxin
• mycotoxin
• neurotoxin