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.
was boiling
-
past progressiveof boil.past progressive
Used to describe an ongoing action or continuous state that was happening at a specific time in the past.
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.
"When I actually saw the video and saw how quickly the entire solution was boiling, that was really remarkable," Han recalls.
From BBC ● May 7, 2026
The early summer was boiling hot, but she sat at her desk and diligently completed editing her book and turned it in to Bennett Cerf, her editor at Random House.
From Salon ● Oct. 15, 2024
On a recent afternoon, Tarhjia Easterly, 54, who lives in one room with her daughter and 4-year-old grandson, was boiling water for the boy’s bath.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 16, 2024
I’m sure he was boiling with fury, but he just stayed completely silent like a statue.
From Slate ● Mar. 8, 2024
When he returned, he was boiling up with a fever and hallucinating.
From "The Gene" by Siddhartha Mukherjee
