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 in
We were boxed in and couldn't get out of our parking space.
sometimes used figuratively
I feel boxed in by all these rules.

Examples of box in in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Van Nistelrooy has lamented his side’s performances in both boxes in many games, but Soumare in particular was a big influence in Leicester’s area, especially as substitute Alejandro Garnacho was constantly able to deliver low dangerous crosses from the left. Rob Tanner, The Athletic, 8 Feb. 2025 Trump should set up an electronic suggestion box in which federal employees can advise his team (anonymously if necessary) of duplication, logjams, relevance and turf wars. Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2025 Wow Factor: In addition to an all-wheel drive option for $760, the top level Platinum trim now has a refrigerator box in the center console and a vacuum system tucked underneath. Scotty Reiss, Parents, 6 Feb. 2025 Doing the job of clearing out the attic should be thought of as a start-to-finish project, even if that means going through one box every week rather than 10 boxes in a day but with a major mess left on your hands (or in your garage). Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 26 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for box in 

Dictionary Entries Near box in

Cite this Entry

“Box in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/box%20in. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!