rafting

1 of 2
Synonyms of raftingnext

present participle of raft entry 2

: the act, sport, or pastime of traveling on a river or other body of water in a usually inflatable raft : the sport of rafting
But injuries can happen, just like with any other sport. For this reason, rafting might not be everyone's cup of tea …—Aislinn Sarnacki
So maybe white-water rafting is not your ticket. Maybe you'd like some water sport that does not entail hurtling down an angry river at stomach-churning speeds.—Michael D. Burke
A measure from Sen. Lawrence Childers … would provide immunity from lawsuits to outfitters of paddle sports—such as rafting and canoeing—because of "the inherent risks of paddle sport activities."—Tim Hoover

Examples of rafting in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Fishing is a huge draw here, but visitors can also experience whitewater rafting and enjoy the scenery and wildlife, including plenty of birds. — Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 10 Oct. 2026 Some travelers make their way to this part of southwest Colorado for the outdoor adventures—like whitewater rafting, skiing, hiking, and stargazing in nearby Mesa Verde National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site and International Dark Sky Park. — Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 29 Sep. 2026 Or maybe Pitt simply wanted to get his Jack London on, traipsing throughout gorgeous natural terrain and ruffling his co-star’s fur in between fending off feral wolves and navigating impromptu whitewater rafting trips sans the raft. — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2026 For the outdoors-inclined there's fly-fishing, hiking and cycling, and even river-rafting—plus skiing in the Mohawk and Catamount Mountains in winter months. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rafting

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1697, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rafting was in 1697

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Cite this Entry

“Rafting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rafting. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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