boiling point

noun

Synonyms of boiling pointnext
1
: the temperature at which a liquid boils
2
a
: the point at which a person becomes uncontrollably angry
b
: the point of crisis : head sense 17b
matters had reached the boiling point

Examples of boiling point in a Sentence

The boiling point of water is 212° Fahrenheit or 100° Celsius. when the situation reached the boiling point, the President had no choice but to order out the National Guard
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.
Zilisch’s exasperation reached a boiling point last week at New Hampshire Motor Speedway. Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026 That competition is about to reach its boiling point this week. David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026 The sequence was the boiling point of a maddening, inexplicable few days in Minnesota. Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 19 Aug. 2026 An inning later, things reached a boiling point with the bases loaded. Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for boiling point

Word History

First Known Use

1741, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of boiling point was in 1741

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Boiling point.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boiling%20point. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

boiling point

noun
1
: the temperature at which a liquid boils
2
: the point at which a person becomes uncontrollably angry
3
: the point of crisis

Medical Definition

: the temperature at which a liquid boils

More from Merriam-Webster on boiling point

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!