1 B2 neutral
(Basketball) To use your body to position yourself between an opponent and the basket, preventing them from getting a rebound.
"The centre did a great job of boxing out the opposing power forward on every free throw."
separable
box out
B2 neutral separable transitive
In basketball, to use your body to position yourself between an opponent and the basket; more broadly, to prevent someone from getting something by blocking them.
In plain English
In basketball, to block another player from getting the ball by putting your body between them and the basket.
What does "box out" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 idiomatic neutral
To prevent someone from accessing an opportunity or market by taking up space or establishing dominance.
"The tech giant effectively boxed out smaller competitors by controlling the entire supply chain."
separable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To create a box (a blocked zone using the body) that keeps someone out.
Actually means
In basketball, to block another player from getting the ball by putting your body between them and the basket.
Usage tip
Primarily a basketball term. The figurative use (blocking someone from an opportunity) is less common. Coaches frequently use this term when teaching rebounding fundamentals.
Words that pair with "box out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
rebound opponent basket player position market
How to conjugate "box out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
box out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
boxes out
he/she/it
Past simple
boxed out
yesterday
Past participle
boxed out
have + pp
-ing form
boxing out
continuous
Hear "box out" in the wild
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