boil
verb (used without object)
to change from a liquid to a gaseous state, producing bubbles of gas that rise to the surface of the liquid, agitating it as they rise.
had boiled
-
past perfectof boil.past perfect
Used to express a completed action that took place before another specific past action occurred.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Public frustration with it had boiled over in 2022, when Ticketmaster botched ticket sales for Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
Dale - who has not seen his brother since he left Dundee in 2022 - said Steven's sister-in-law raised the alarm when she received messages claiming he had boiled and eaten mushrooms he found nearby.
From BBC ● Dec. 21, 2023
The day before, in his office at Georgetown, Carlson’s alarm about the planet’s trajectory had boiled over.
From Science Magazine ● Sep. 25, 2023
Now in his mid-70s, on opening day he figured he had boiled 48 pots — each serving 40 cups — before people started lining up for a lunch of “Swedish meatball sundae.”
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 31, 2023
The kitchen was sweet with tarts, and some of the berries had boiled over in the oven and burned, making the sharp, bitter-sweet smell pleasant and astringent.
From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
