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.
were 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.
Another senior figure said they were "boiling with rage" when that accusation had been chucked around.
From BBC ● Feb. 14, 2026
Across the country, fear and tension about environmental threats were boiling beneath the surface.
From Salon ● Nov. 14, 2024
When a reporter visited in July, residents said they were boiling water on the stove in order to take baths.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2024
In the wake of George Floyd’s murder in May 2020, protests, looting, and anger were boiling up in the streets of Boston, a city that has played host to both abolitionists and vicious race riots.
From New York Times ● Sep. 23, 2023
As far as I could see, the sky and the sea were boiling together.
From "The Lightning Thief" by Rick Riordan
