boiling point

noun

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

Synonyms of boiling point

• crisis
• crossroad(s)
• breaking point
• head
• flash 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

The episode’s tension reaches a boiling point at the ceremony, when Nate’s business associate, Naz, shows up uninvited after learning Nate is scamming him. —Zoe Papelis, Vulture, 27 Apr. 2026

During the penultimate episode, which aired April 23, their fight reached a boiling point after Vandelli refused to speak with Stilley after a heated garden party exchange during a cast trip. —Colleen Kratofil, PEOPLE, 24 Apr. 2026

Like, Denny Hamlin and Kyle Busch nearing a boiling point. —Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 Apr. 2026

Their feud was the focus of tabloid gossip for much of 2025 but reached a boiling point late last year after his wedding. —Anna Tingley, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1741, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for boiling point

• counterpoint
• disappoint
• multipoint
• needlepoint
• reappoint
• adjoint
• anoint
• appoint
• checkpoint
• conjoint
• disjoint
• endpoint

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 

: the temperature at which a liquid boils