boil over

verb

boiled over; boiling over; boils over
Synonyms of boil overnext

intransitive verb

1
: to overflow while boiling
2
a
: to become violent or lose control because of anger
so frustrated he's ready to boil over
b
: to develop into something more violent
Their disagreement finally boiled over into a fight.
boilover
ˈbȯi(-ə)l-ˌō-vər How to pronounce boil over (audio)
noun

Examples of boil over in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
His death ignited anger in a small town where tensions between Black residents and the police have boiled over in recent years. — Sophie Bates, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026 Bring to a boil over medium-high; reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer, whisking occasionally, until flavors meld and mixture thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 2 Sep. 2026 When younger brother Naz arrives with an unexpected guest in tow, tensions simmer, eventually boiling over into violence as the family’s dirty secrets are revealed. — Suzanne Van Atten, AJC.com, 24 Aug. 2026 Tension seemed to boil over for Jackson, as he was suspended for a period or two of practice after throwing a punch in a scuffle with Giants defenders. — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 20 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for boil over

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of boil over was in the 15th century

Rhymes for boil over

See All Rhymes for boil over

Browse Nearby Words

boil out
boil over
boil smut
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Boil over.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boil%20over. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

boil over

verb
1
: to overflow while boiling
2
: to become so angry as to lose one's temper

More from Merriam-Webster on boil over

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for boil over

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