Phrase guide

boil over

verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Australia: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

verb

Meaning 1

To boil to such an extent as to overflow its container.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • I forgot about the rice and it boiled over.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

To reach the point where aggressive action is taken.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic, intransitive, usually

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To act aggressively angry.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • He boiled over all night.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

verb

Meaning 4

To buck aggressively.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: intransitive

Examples

  • The stallion boiled over, throwing Robert from her back.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

overflow or cause to overflow while boiling

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • The milk is boiling over

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: overboil

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: boil

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

17 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Amharic: ገነፈለ (gänäfälä) — boil so as to overflow
  • Azerbaijani: daşmaq — boil so as to overflow
  • Bengali: উপচানো (upocanō) — boil so as to overflow
  • Bulgarian: изкипявам (izkipjavam) — boil so as to overflow
  • Dutch: overkoken — boil so as to overflow
  • French: déborder — boil so as to overflow
  • German: überkochen — boil so as to overflow
  • Latin: efferveō — boil so as to overflow
  • Eastern Mari: велаш (velaš) — boil so as to overflow
  • Norman: bouoilli par dessus — boil so as to overflow
  • Polish: kipieć — boil so as to overflow
  • Polish: wykipieć — boil so as to overflow
  • Romanian: da pe dinafară — boil so as to overflow
  • Russian: убега́ть (ubegátʹ) — boil so as to overflow
  • Russian: убежа́ть (ubežátʹ) — boil so as to overflow
  • Scottish Gaelic: cuir thairis — boil so as to overflow
  • Swedish: koka över — boil so as to overflow