plural boxes
1
: a rigid typically rectangular container with or without a cover
a cigar box
: such as
a
: an open cargo container of a vehicle
b
: coffin
2
: the contents of a box especially as a measure of quantity
3
: an often small space, compartment, or enclosure: such as
a
: an enclosed group of seats for spectators (as in a theater or stadium)
b
: a cell for holding mail
c
d
: a driver's seat on a carriage or coach
e
British
: box stall
4
: a box or boxlike container and its contents: such as
a
: a usually self-contained piece of electronic equipment
b
c
: a signaling apparatus
alarm box
d
: an automobile transmission
e
British
: a gift in a box
f
: boom box
5
: a usually rectangular space that is frequently outlined or demarcated on a surface: such as
a
: a space on a page for printed matter or in which to make a mark
b
: any of six spaces on a baseball diamond where the batter, coaches, pitcher, and catcher stand
c
: the intersection of two roads especially when treated as an area where vehicles are prohibited from stopping because doing so would interfere with traffic flow
Don't block the box.
6
: the limitations of conventionality
trying to think outside the box
7
: a cubical building
8
British
: cup sense 5b
I like to use a pair of trousers which have a lot more room in them so that they give me far more freedom of movement. They also make it easier to put in a thigh pad and box.—
Glenn Turner
Glenn Turner9
: predicament, fix
boxed; boxing; boxes
1
: to enclose in or as if in a box
2
: to hem in (someone, such as an opponent)
—usually used with in, out, or up
boxed out the tackle
boxed; boxing; boxes
: to fight with the fists : engage in boxing
1
: to hit (something, especially someone's ears) with the hand
2
: to engage in boxing with
: a punch or slap especially on the ear
plural box or boxes
: an evergreen shrub or small tree (genus Buxus of the family Buxaceae, the box family) with opposite entire leaves and capsular fruits
especially
: a widely cultivated shrub (B. sempervirens) used for hedges, borders, and topiary figures
boxed; boxing; boxes
: to name the 32 points of (the compass) in their order
—used figuratively in the phrase box the compass to describe making a complete reversal
Synonyms
Noun (1)
Verb (1)
- cage
- closet
- coop (up)
- corral
- encage
- encase
- enclose
- inclose
- envelop
- fence (in)
- hedge
- hem (in)
- house
- immure
- include
- mew (up)
- pen
- wall (in)
Verb (2)
- bang
- bash
- bat
- belt
- biff
- bludgeon
- bob
- bonk
- bop
- bust
- clap
- clip
- clobber
- clock
- clout
- crack
- hammer
- hit
- knock
- nail
- paste
- pound
- punch
- rap
- slam
- slap
- slog
- slug
- smack
- smite
- sock
- strike
- swat
- swipe
- tag
- thump
- thwack
- wallop
- whack
- whale
- zap
Noun (2)
- bang
- bash
- bat
- beat
- belt
- biff
- blow
- bop
- buffet
- bust
- chop
- clap
- clip
- clout
- crack
- cuff
- dab
- douse [British]
- fillip
- hack
- haymaker
- hit
- hook
- knock
- larrup [dialect]
- lash
- lick
- pelt
- pick
- plump
- poke
- pound
- punch
- rap
- slam
- slap
- slug
- smack
- smash
- sock
- spank
- stinger
- stripe
- stroke
- swat
- swipe
- switch
- thud
- thump
- thwack
- wallop
- welt
- whack
- wham
- whop
- whap
Examples of box in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebJack Irvin, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
There will also be a LEGO bar where guests can select a kit or draft their favorite team colors into a custom box.
—Detroit Free Press, 9 Apr. 2024
Board & You plans to make more than 7,000 charcuterie boxes of varying sizes for the event.
—Amanda Hancock, The Courier-Journal, 9 Apr. 2024
When the campground restoration project is complete, the large campground will have new walkways, parking areas, and amenities, including 15 additional wheelchair-accessible campsites, 90 new food storage boxes, and electrical hook-ups for around 60 campsites.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 8 Apr. 2024
Arlo’s Home Security System ($199.99) is probably the closest option to Nest Secure, offering sleek multifunctional sensors rather than lots of little white plastic boxes.
—Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 8 Apr. 2024
Katie Mayer remembered making box eclipse viewers in elementary school and has been fascinated by them since but had never seen a total eclipse.
—Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
Sometimes devices stay in their boxes for months, during which Apple may have released several iOS updates.
—Jody Serrano / Gizmodo, Quartz, 29 Mar. 2024
Grate potatoes and onion using shredding disk attachment on a food processor or large holes of a box grater.
—Julia Levy, Southern Living, 28 Mar. 2024
Okla Jones, Essence, 10 Apr. 2024
Sporty types will be satisfied with a variety of activities to partake in–from tennis to petanque to pilates and yoga or boxing with a boxing champion—while those looking to relax can hide away in the luxurious Valmont spa or wind down with a drink by one of the property’s two pools.
—Monica Mendal, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024
Sportscenter didn’t show the highlight of Green boxing out Wembayama — all 7-foot-4 of him — as the Warriors missed a 3-point shot while up 3 points with less than 10 seconds remaining.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2024
Li is at the forefront of a growing chorus of academics, policymakers and former employees who argue the sky-high cost of working with AI models is boxing researchers out of the field, compromising independent study of the burgeoning technology.
—Gerrit De Vynck, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2024
Jake Paul actually boxed former NBA star Nate Robinson in a 2020 undercard match in which Tyson was in the main event.
—Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2024
After watching Clark fail to box out a San Diego State player as instructed in his college debut, Cronin threatened to never play the freshman again.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2024
Talented Black artists are far too often pigeonholed, boxed into a genre and identity that at times seems immovable.
—Shannon J. Effinger, SPIN, 29 Mar. 2024
The Justice Department announced a sweeping antitrust lawsuit against Apple, accusing the tech giant of boxing out iPhone competitors and stifling innovation.
—Laurent Belsie, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Mar. 2024
Noun
She’s then seen carrying a suspicious box, as a man walks around with a knife and cuts another woman’s top off.
—Jack Irvin, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024
There will also be a LEGO bar where guests can select a kit or draft their favorite team colors into a custom box.
—Detroit Free Press, 9 Apr. 2024
Board & You plans to make more than 7,000 charcuterie boxes of varying sizes for the event.
—Amanda Hancock, The Courier-Journal, 9 Apr. 2024
When the campground restoration project is complete, the large campground will have new walkways, parking areas, and amenities, including 15 additional wheelchair-accessible campsites, 90 new food storage boxes, and electrical hook-ups for around 60 campsites.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 8 Apr. 2024
Arlo’s Home Security System ($199.99) is probably the closest option to Nest Secure, offering sleek multifunctional sensors rather than lots of little white plastic boxes.
—Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 8 Apr. 2024
Katie Mayer remembered making box eclipse viewers in elementary school and has been fascinated by them since but had never seen a total eclipse.
—Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024
Sometimes devices stay in their boxes for months, during which Apple may have released several iOS updates.
—Jody Serrano / Gizmodo, Quartz, 29 Mar. 2024
Grate potatoes and onion using shredding disk attachment on a food processor or large holes of a box grater.
—Julia Levy, Southern Living, 28 Mar. 2024
Verb
By refusing to let conventional restrictions box him in, Wilson has helped to break the mold of what the modern sports star can be.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 10 Apr. 2024
Sporty types will be satisfied with a variety of activities to partake in–from tennis to petanque to pilates and yoga or boxing with a boxing champion—while those looking to relax can hide away in the luxurious Valmont spa or wind down with a drink by one of the property’s two pools.
—Monica Mendal, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024
Sportscenter didn’t show the highlight of Green boxing out Wembayama — all 7-foot-4 of him — as the Warriors missed a 3-point shot while up 3 points with less than 10 seconds remaining.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, The Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2024
Li is at the forefront of a growing chorus of academics, policymakers and former employees who argue the sky-high cost of working with AI models is boxing researchers out of the field, compromising independent study of the burgeoning technology.
—Gerrit De Vynck, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2024
Jake Paul actually boxed former NBA star Nate Robinson in a 2020 undercard match in which Tyson was in the main event.
—Alex Weprin, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Mar. 2024
After watching Clark fail to box out a San Diego State player as instructed in his college debut, Cronin threatened to never play the freshman again.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2024
Talented Black artists are far too often pigeonholed, boxed into a genre and identity that at times seems immovable.
—Shannon J. Effinger, SPIN, 29 Mar. 2024
The Justice Department announced a sweeping antitrust lawsuit against Apple, accusing the tech giant of boxing out iPhone competitors and stifling innovation.
—Laurent Belsie, The Christian Science Monitor, 25 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'box.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Articles Related to box
Dictionary Entries Near box
Cite this Entry
“Box.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/box. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
box
1 of 5 noun
plural box or boxes
: an evergreen shrub or small tree used especially for hedges
box
2 of 5 noun1
a
: a container usually having four sides, a bottom, and a cover
b
: the amount held by a box
ate a whole box of popcorn
2
: a small compartment for a group of spectators in a theater
3
: the driver's seat on a carriage
4
: a shed that protects
5
: a container (as for a car transmission) that resembles a box
6
: a rectangle which encloses and draws attention to something printed
7
: a space on a baseball diamond where a batter, coach, pitcher, or catcher stands
8
: the limits of ordinariness
thinking outside the box
box
3 of 5 verb
: to enclose in or as if in a box
box
4 of 5 noun
: a punch or slap especially on the ear
box
5 of 5 verb1
: to strike with the hand
2
: to engage in boxing : fight with the fists
Etymology
Noun
Old English box "box (shrub)," from Latin buxus (same meaning), from Greek pyxos "box tree"
Noun
Old English box "container," from Latin buxis (same meaning), from Greek pyxis, literally, "a container made from boxwood"
Noun
Middle English box "a blow or slap on the ear"
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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