box in

verb

boxed in; boxing in; boxes in
Synonyms of box innext
: 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.
What people pay for is not having to type, which puts you up against workflow tools, meeting tools, and eventually the text box in front of every AI model. Allie Garfinkle, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2026 As Ronald Araujo discovered recently when the Uruguay international defender’s move from Barcelona managed to tick pretty much every box in the modern transfer-reaction handbook. Gregg Evans, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026 But that enthusiasm once led him to buy five wooden boxes in a single haul, several of which were mediocre and three of which needed repairs. Rachel Silva, Martha Stewart, 14 Aug. 2026 In the last moment of the episode, Alice follows her instinct to a Safe Surrender box in an area near the old Candlelight Lounge location. Erin Qualey, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for box in

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Box in.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/box%20in. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster