沸わき返かえる

わ

き

か

え

る

Meanings

1

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

boil up; seethe

Describes liquid boiling vigorously, often with bubbling and churning. Can be used literally for water, soup, etc.

鍋なべの湯ゆが沸わき返かえっている。
The water in the pot is boiling up.

2

godan verb (-ru), intransitive verb

get excited

; be in an uproar

Metaphorical use: a crowd, audience, or group becomes wildly excited, often with noise and commotion. Common in news and sports contexts.

スタジアムが沸わき返かえった。
The stadium erupted in excitement.

Written forms

沸わき返かえるUsage55%
Standard kanji spelling; high-frequency news word.
わきかえるUsage24%
沸わきかえるUsage21%
Kana-mixed spelling; less common but still used.

Kanji

沸seethe, boil, ferment
返return, answer, fade

Similar words

沸ふっ騰とうする
沸騰する is more technical for 'boil' and can also mean 'become heated (discussion)', while 沸き返る emphasizes the bubbling, churning action or the uproarious excitement.
湧わき上あがる
湧き上がる means 'well up' (emotions, cheers) or 'gush out' (water), focusing on emergence; 沸き返る focuses on the ongoing boiling or excited state.

Etymology

Compound of 沸く (to boil) and 返る (to return, turn over), literally 'to boil and churn'. The metaphorical sense of excitement derives from the image of a bubbling, agitated liquid.