boat

1 of 2

noun

ˈbōt How to pronounce boat (audio)
plural boats
Synonyms of boatnext
1
a
: a small vessel for travel on water
b
: ship
2
: a boat-shaped container, utensil, or device
a gravy boat
a laboratory boat
3
informal : a large car
A lot of people still think Cadillac makes big floaty boats.—Mark LaNeve
boatful
ˈbōt-ˌfu̇l How to pronounce boat (audio)
noun
boatlike
ˈbōt-ˌlīk How to pronounce boat (audio)
adjective
see also:
in the same boat miss the boat rock the boat

boat

2 of 2

verb

boated; boating; boats

transitive verb

: to place in or bring into a boat

intransitive verb

: to go by boat

Synonyms of boat

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Noun

Verb

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of boat in a Sentence

Noun He tied the boat to the dock. Cruise ships and other boats filled the harbor. traveling by boat across the ocean Verb We boated over to the island. boated to the picnic site on an island in the bay
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Her body was found Monday morning in the waters near Hagley Landing, a boat ramp leading to the Waccamaw River in the small town of Pawleys Island, South Carolina, following an extensive search involving hundreds of people and multiple agencies. — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 3 Sep. 2026 The coast on this part of Tuscany is a little wild, but wonderful for swimming, and guests have access to the boat for excursions to nearby islands and morning swims off secret coves. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
Families can also go boating to try and spot whale sharks and manatees in the lagoon or opt for less exciting but just as rewarding sunset cruises. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Sep. 2026 Earlier this year, a 17-year-old was bitten by a shark in the waters off Galveston, Texas, while on a boating trip over Memorial Day weekend. — Heather McCarron, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for boat

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English boot, from Old English bāt; akin to Old Norse beit boat

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of boat was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing boat

Rhymes for boat

See All Rhymes for boat

Browse Nearby Words

boastworthy
boat
boatable
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Boat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boat. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

boat

1 of 2 noun
ˈbōt How to pronounce boat (audio)
1
: a small vessel for travel on water
2
: ship entry 1 sense 1
3
: a boat-shaped utensil
gravy boat

boat

2 of 2 verb
1
: to put into or carry in a boat
2
: to travel by boat
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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