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to box

to box

57 2.0
To fight another person using the fists, often as a sport
  • verb
  • /bɑks/
: boxear
  • I went to court to be allowed to box professionally.

But come to Luton and he boxed Storm Jim.

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Examples

Synonyms

to punch
vsto box
570 1.4

To hit someone or something quickly with a closed fist

is about fighting or repeated exchanges rather than a single quick blow
to strike
vsto box
508 2.4

To hit someone or something with force

is specific to fighting with closed hands or to sport rather than generic hits
to smack
vsto box
183 3.5

To hit someone or something with an open hand

is used for closed fist fighting or sport rather than open hand strikes
to pummel
vsto box
46 6.7

Hit something many times, usually with your fists

is used for fighting in sport or single hits rather than only battering
to belt
vsto box
  • Informal
12 6.0

To hit with a lot of force, often using the arm or an object

is about fighting with hands in sport or repeated exchanges, not single hard blows
to fistfight
vsto box
1 4.1

To hit another person with your bare hands in a fight

is used for organized sport fighting with hands rather than angry street fights
to pommel
vsto box
  • NSFW
1 9.3

To hit someone or something again and again with your fists

is used for sport fighting or single strikes rather than simply sustained battering

Antonyms

774 1.3

To protect people and things from attack or harm

Idioms

outside the box
  • Informal
47 4.5

In a creative way that does not follow normal rules

24 5.3

Thinking in a new, creative way not limited by usual methods

Ready to use without extra setup after you buy it

11 7.7

To create many unexpected problems that are hard to control

In a usual, not creative way that avoids new ideas

1 7.3

Think in a new way instead of your usual way

1 8.8

A person who is not very quick to understand

A person who is not very quick to understand things

1 9.9

To say all the compass points in order and name every direction

to box one's ears
  • Offensive
9.9

To hit someone on the side of the head to punish or scold them

To sell a lot of movie tickets

Spending a long time watching television and not doing much else

off one's box
  • Archaic
9.9

Feeling confused and out of control after drinking or when very upset

Phrasal Verbs

17 2.6

Put things into a box to keep them

16 4.7

To stop a person or thing from moving, acting freely and making choices

to put in a box
  • Informal
12 7.2

Treat someone as only one type and ignore their other skills

to box out
  • Informal
8 6.7

Stop someone from getting a better position, often by using your body in sport

Remove waste from a cat's litter tray

2 8.4

To add fake votes to an election to change its result

1 7.8

To leave someone with few or no good choices

1 8.0

To impress many people by doing something very well

8.3

Act in a smart, careful way to gain an advantage

Compounds

106 2.5

Money that comes from selling tickets for a film or show

67 2.8

A secure metal box in a bank where people keep valuables

44 1.0

A box made of cardboard used for packing or storing things

35 3.4

A numbered box at a post office where you receive and collect your mail

A strong metal box in a bank that holds valuable things

28 3.4

A secure metal box in a bank for keeping valuable things

24 3.1

A small box that plays a tune when you wind it

black box
  • Specialized
23 4.9

A device on an airplane that records flight information and pilot voices

boom box
  • Archaic
22 3.1

A portable music system with speakers that plays music loudly

Pandora's box
  • Literature
20 8.2

A situation that causes many unexpected and serious problems

20 1.8

A box with soft material that cats use to pee and poo indoors

18 2.5

A sealed container where voters put their voting papers during an election

16 1.8

A place at a theatre or cinema where people buy tickets

15 1.0

A cardboard box that holds breakfast cereal

12 3.7

A part in the throat that makes sounds when you speak

A numbered box at a post office where you collect your mail

11 3.2

A raised area in a courtroom where the people who decide the case sit during a trial

press box
  • Literature
9 3.1

An area in a stadium or arena where reporters and broadcasters sit to report the game

A toy box with a clown or figure that pops out when opened

9 2.1

A small box for keeping cigars or other small items

8 4.4

Private place in a raised box with a good view of the stage or field

black box
  • Specialized
8 3.9

A system whose inner parts are hidden so you only see what goes in and what comes out

7 3.3

A small area in ice hockey where a player sits to serve time after a penalty

dialog box
  • Specialized
6 3.2

A small window that asks you to confirm or cancel an action

5 5.8

A simple coffin made from pine wood

5 1.0

A box for keeping children's toys

cat box
  • US
5 1.0

A box filled with litter that a cat uses as a toilet indoors

5 3.2

A strong cloth frame with springs that supports a mattress

shit box
  • Offensive
4 9.9

A very old, broken car or run-down place

4 4.2

An enclosed area in a courtroom where a person sits to tell the judge or jury what they saw

4 2.9

A long narrow container for growing plants on a windowsill

4 8.3

A surprising thing that seems to come by luck, not skill, like a small toy in a snack box

4 4.3

A marked area beside home plate where the player stands to hit

telephone box
  • Archaic
4 3.0

A small box on a street that holds a public phone

idiot box
  • Informal
4 7.2

A television people jokingly call a waste of time

text box
  • Specialized
4 3.2

An area on a screen or in a document where you can type and show words

A way to find new, creative ideas to solve problems

3 2.8

A public booth with a phone for making calls

3 1.0

A large strong container used to hold things for moving or storage

3 5.2

A North American land turtle with a high shell that can close tightly to protect itself

2 3.0

A number for a mailbox at a post office where someone receives mail

2 1.0

A box or slot at a house where mail is delivered

2 2.0

A small container with a slot on top for keeping coins or paper money

Christmas box
  • Archaic
1 2.4

A gift you give at Christmas to people who do a job for you, like a milkman or postman

1 5.5

A place in a church where people put money to help needy people

1 1.8

A public box where people put letters for the post to collect

shine box
  • Archaic
1 7.1

A box that holds brushes, cloths, and polish for shoes

1 6.4

The front part of a shoe that covers and protects the toes

1 6.3

A loudspeaker used to talk to people in a building

A number used to receive mail at a post office box

1 3.0

A box that holds coins collected from a machine like a slot machine

1 5.9

A shallow box with a clear front that shows and protects small items like jewelry

1 6.1

A North American fast-growing maple tree with leaves made of several parts, often used for shade

1 1.0

A small box for holding pencils, erasers, and a ruler

1 7.1

A tall red box on the street for posting letters

1 4.6

A kite with a box shape open at both ends

1 3.5

A tool with a closed circular end that fits over a nut or bolt to turn it

1 6.7

A small building where people control railway signals and switches to direct trains

1 6.3

A box-shaped instrument with bellows that you press to make music, like an accordion

box camera
  • Archaic
1 4.2

A simple camera in the shape of a box with a fixed focus lens and few controls

box-ticking
  • Literature
1 7.5

Doing tasks only to meet rules without real care

list box
  • Specialized
1 3.7

A box that shows a list of items you can choose one or more from

1 4.7

A small box that plays a tune when you wind it

1 1.8

A numbered box at a post office that people rent to receive mail

1 5.0

A small shelter with an open front where a guard stands

jam box
  • Informal
1 7.8

A small loud speaker you carry to play music outdoors

box seat
  • Archaic
1 8.9

Place where a driver sits on a horse-drawn carriage

dispatch box
  • Formal
1 8.8

A locked box used to carry and keep important government papers like speeches

1 2.3

A small container with holes in the top for sprinkling ground pepper on food

miter box
  • Specialized
1 6.8

A tool that guides a saw to make cuts at exact angles in wood for picture frames

1 3.5

A number for a post office box where you collect mail

box pleat
  • Specialized
1 6.4

Two folds in cloth turned under to form a flat box shape

box of tricks
  • Informal
1 5.5

A set of clever methods a person uses to solve problems

How Hard

to pummel
46 6.7
to punch
570 1.4
to box
57 2.0
jab
  • Specialized
72 2.8
tap
57 1.0

Surface Forms

box infinitive
boxed past
boxed past participle
boxing present participle
boxes third person singular

Etymology

To box (to fight with fists) comes from the idea of giving 'boxes' or blows to someone, and so the sport and verb mean striking with the fists in a series of hits.