box
gb/bˈɑks/ us/bˈɑks/
A1
English
~ 1000
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A1
entity
1
Container with flat sides
A container with flat sides, often made of cardboard or wood, used to hold things.
Usage pattern:
a [cardboard/wooden/plastic] box
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'box' with 'package'; 'package' can mean something wrapped for delivery and may not be box-shaped.
Synonyms
container (More general term for anything that holds items, not just box-shaped.)
Antonyms
bag (A flexible container, unlike the rigid shape of a box.)
Collocations
cardboard box
|wooden box
|open a box
|pack a box
|shoe box
Themes
daily life
|shopping
|storage
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She put the books into a cardboard box.
- The gift came in a small wooden box.
- He found an old box full of photographs.
- Please open the box carefully.
- The shoes were still in their original box.
Learner examples
- I have a big box in my room.
- The toys are in the box.
- He opens the box slowly.
- This box is heavy.
- We put the apples in the box.
Verb
A2
action
2
Put into a box
To put something into a box.
Usage pattern:
to box [something] up
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'box' (verb) with 'pack', which is more general and not limited to boxes.
Synonyms
pack (More general; can refer to putting items in any type of container, not only boxes.)
Antonyms
unpack (To remove items from a container, including a box.)
Collocations
box up
|box and ship
|box carefully
Themes
daily life
|shopping
|storage
|daily_life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- They boxed up all the clothes for donation.
- Please box these dishes before moving them.
- The factory workers boxed the products quickly.
- He boxed the cookies to give as a gift.
Learner examples
- I will box the toys now.
- She boxes the books for moving.
- We need to box the food.
- He boxed the shirts for sale.
Verb
B1
action
3
Fight in boxing sport
To fight someone in the sport of boxing using gloves.
Usage pattern:
to box against [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'box' meaning 'fight' with 'kickboxing', which also uses kicks.
Synonyms
spar (Usually refers to practice fighting rather than competitive matches.)
Antonyms
wrestle (A combat sport involving grappling instead of punching.)
Collocations
box professionally
|box for a title
|box in the ring
Themes
sports
|health
Examples
- He has been boxing since he was twelve.
- They will box for the championship next month.
- She boxed against some of the best fighters in the world.
Learner examples
- I want to box when I am older.
- He can box very well.
- They will box tomorrow night.
- She learns how to box at the gym.
Noun
B1
entity
4
Marked area in sports
A marked space on the field or court used for certain actions in sports.
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'box' in sports with 'goal', but the goal is the net structure, not the marked area.
Synonyms
zone (General term for an area; not specific to sports rules.)
Collocations
penalty box
|penalty area (the box)
|six-yard box
Themes
sports
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The ball was kicked into the penalty box.
- He waited inside the six-yard box for the pass.
- The referee pointed to the penalty spot inside the box.
Learner examples
- The player runs into the box.
- He scores from inside the box.
- She stands in the penalty box.
Grammar
Dictionary form
box
IPA
GB/bˈɑks/
US/bˈɑks/
Syllables & stress
box (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (box)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: box
- Plural: box, boxes
Verb
- Base: box
- 3rd Person Singular: boxes
- Present Participle: boxing
- Past: boxed
Word family
Forms
boxes
noun
boxing
verb
boxed
verb
Core family
boxer
noun B1
Related words
boxy
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
unbox
verb
Expressions
box in
2/bˈɑks ˈɪn/
phrasal verb
Restrict movement by surrounding closely
To stop someone from moving by putting things very close around them.
Examples
- My car was boxed in by two trucks.
- The protesters boxed in the police van.
box up
1/bˈɑks ˈʌp/
phrasal verb
Pack into a box for storage/transport
To put things into a box so you can move or store them.
Examples
- We need to box up these clothes before we move.
- She boxed up all her old books.
in the box
3/ˈɪn ðə bˈɑks/
fixed phrase
Inside a container or space called a box
Inside a container with flat sides, usually square or rectangular.
Examples
- The tools are in the box under the table.
- I found an old watch in the box.
think outside the box
4/θˈɪŋk aʊtsˈaɪd ðə bˈɑks/
idiom
Think creatively or unconventionally
To think of new and different ideas, not just usual ones.
Examples
- We need to think outside the box to solve this problem.
- Her design shows she can think outside the box.
tick all the boxes
1/tˈɪk ˈɔl ðə bˈɑksɪz/
idiom
meet every requirement
To have all the things that are needed or wanted for a particular purpose.
Examples
- This job ticks all the boxes for me.
- The job ticks all the boxes for me: good pay, short hours, and a friendly team.
- The plan ticks all the boxes for success.
- This hotel really ticks all the boxes for a family holiday.
- Her CV ticks all the boxes the company is looking for.