boiling point

noun

Synonyms of boiling pointnext
1
: the temperature at which a liquid boils
2
a
: the point at which a person becomes uncontrollably angry
b
: the point of crisis : head sense 17b
matters had reached the boiling point

Examples of boiling point in a Sentence

The boiling point of water is 212° Fahrenheit or 100° Celsius. when the situation reached the boiling point, the President had no choice but to order out the National Guard
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.
Of all the elements on the periodic table, tungsten, first isolated in 1783, has the highest melting point (6,192 degrees Fahrenheit) and boiling point (10,706 degrees F, about the temperature of the sun’s surface). Ari Sen, Scientific American, 13 June 2026 While the water is technically heated to near-boiling temperatures to brew coffee and tea, that’s not always enough to guarantee safety, especially when altitude changes the boiling point. Alesandra Dubin, Southern Living, 7 June 2026 The market for kids’ vintage clothing has heated up precipitously over the last few years, perhaps hitting a boiling point in January when an Eeyore romper from the ’90s sold for over $3,000 on EBay. Marah Eakin, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026 See video … WATCH Tune in for a breakdown of California's primary election day, and as the race for Los Angeles Mayor is hitting a boiling point. FOXNews.com, 2 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for boiling point

Word History

First Known Use

1741, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of boiling point was in 1741

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Cite this Entry

“Boiling point.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boiling%20point. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

boiling point

noun
1
: the temperature at which a liquid boils
2
: the point at which a person becomes uncontrollably angry
3
: the point of crisis

Medical Definition

boiling point

noun
boil·​ing point ˈbȯi-liŋ-ˌpȯint How to pronounce boiling point (audio)
: the temperature at which a liquid boils

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