box in
phrasal 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 inWe were boxed in and couldn't get out of our parking space.
—sometimes used figurativelyI feel boxed in by all these rules.
Examples of box in in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Sabalenka repeatedly looked at her box in frustration during the third set, while Rybakina was unflappable and made fewer errors in the big moments.
—
Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 1 Feb. 2026
There was a brief car chase and then one vehicle was boxed in by squad cards.
—Cbs Chicago Team, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
Making wheelchair-accessible space adjacent to the jury box in the Wayne County Circuit and Probate courts.
—Dana Afana, Freep.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Break down and recycle those bulky boxes to clear out attic clutter instantly or try repurposing cardboard boxes in your garden.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for box in
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.
Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 1 Feb. 2026
There was a brief car chase and then one vehicle was boxed in by squad cards.
—Cbs Chicago Team, CBS News, 28 Jan. 2026
Making wheelchair-accessible space adjacent to the jury box in the Wayne County Circuit and Probate courts.
—Dana Afana, Freep.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Break down and recycle those bulky boxes to clear out attic clutter instantly or try repurposing cardboard boxes in your garden.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for box in
Cite this Entry
“Box in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/box%20in. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
