box in
phrasal verb
boxed in; boxing in; boxes in
: to surround (someone or something) and make movement difficult
The other bicyclists boxed her in and she couldn't move ahead.
—usually used as (be) boxed inWe were boxed in and couldn't get out of our parking space.
—sometimes used figurativelyI feel boxed in by all these rules.
Examples of box in in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
If prices for eggs and other everyday items were rising because of tariffs, that could box in the Fed.
—
Damian J. Troise, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
Guests of the president and the first lady are seated in the first lady's box in the gallery.
—Javier Zarracina, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025
You're not boxed in or listening to one kind of music all day long.
—Steve Baltin, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
The City Center site is boxed in on three sides by mostly historic or high-value buildings.
—Nick Halter, Axios, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for box in
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Damian J. Troise, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
Guests of the president and the first lady are seated in the first lady's box in the gallery.
—Javier Zarracina, USA TODAY, 3 Mar. 2025
You're not boxed in or listening to one kind of music all day long.
—Steve Baltin, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2025
The City Center site is boxed in on three sides by mostly historic or high-value buildings.
—Nick Halter, Axios, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for box in
Cite this Entry
“Box in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/box%20in. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.
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