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adj B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

boiling

BOY-lihng

Boiling (adj) means extremely hot. Example: “It was boiling outside, well over 35 degrees.”

adj
1
Extremely hot.
"It was boiling outside, well over 35 degrees."
"Careful, that pan is boiling hot."
noun
1
The process of heating a liquid to its boiling point.
"Boiling kills most harmful bacteria in water."

How to Use Boiling

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishVery hot — or the act of heating a liquid until it bubbles.

Common pairings
boiling hot boiling water bring to boiling point

Word Forms

more boiling comparative, boilings plural, most boiling superlative

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Test yourself on “boiling” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

It was _____ outside, well over 35 degrees.

Etymology

From boil plus the suffix -ing.

Related Words

Rhymes for boiling

See all rhymes for boiling →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “boiling” mean?

The word “boiling” means extremely hot. In plain terms, very hot — or the act of heating a liquid until it bubbles.

How do you pronounce “boiling”?

“Boiling” is pronounced BOY-lihng (/ˈbɔɪlɪŋ/ in IPA).

How do you use “boiling” in a sentence?

Here is “boiling” used in a sentence: “It was boiling outside, well over 35 degrees.”

What part of speech is “boiling”?

Depending on how it is used, “boiling” can be an adjective and a noun.

Is “boiling” a common word?

“Boiling” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “boiling” have?

“Boiling” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: extremely hot.

What is the difference between boiling and boiling point?

Boiling is the process of heating a liquid until it bubbles and turns to vapor, while the boiling point is the specific temperature at which that process occurs for a given liquid. Boiling point is a fixed reference value, whereas boiling describes the ongoing action.

What does it mean to describe weather as boiling?

Describing weather as boiling is an informal, exaggerated way of saying it is extremely hot, extending the literal sense of a liquid reaching boiling temperature to describe uncomfortable heat. It is used the same way as saying someone is "boiling mad" to mean extremely angry.

Is boiling always used to describe temperature, or can it describe other things?

While boiling most literally describes extreme heat or the process of heating a liquid to its boiling point, it is also used figuratively for intense emotion, such as boiling with rage or boiling with excitement.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial