boats 1 of 2

noun

plural of boat
1
as in vessels
a small buoyant structure for travel on water paddling the little boat across the lake is great exercise, but tiring

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in ships
a large craft for travel by water you'll have to take a passenger boat to get to the island

Synonyms & Similar Words

boats

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of boat
as in sails
to travel on water in a vessel boated to the picnic site on an island in the bay

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of boats
Noun
The team designed miniature boats with three cavities tuned to different audible frequencies, enabling them to steer the boat in a particular direction by changing the frequency of the sound waves from a speaker. — ArsTechnica, 1 Sep. 2026 The design introduced major changes to the forward section of the submarine, including a Large Aperture Bow sonar array and two Virginia Payload Tubes replacing the 12 individual vertical-launch tubes used on earlier boats. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 1 Sep. 2026 While Iran’s own waters are not a major sardine source, Sumaila said the war still reaches Moroccan boats through the price of fuel. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 31 Aug. 2026 What followed was eight days of evacuation by the Royal Navy aided by a fleet of small private boats that crossed the English Channel to aid in getting the men off the beaches. — David Szondy august 30, New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026 There will always be a spotlight for the Hollywood contingent and the awards hopefuls posing on boats and docks in designer duds. — ABC News, 30 Aug. 2026 For anyone who wants to explore the lakes at their leisure, SWS Boatworks rents boats and jet skis out of Port Carling. — Maryam Siddiqi, Travel + Leisure, 30 Aug. 2026 Although there are still some things the hotel has to figure out in adapting the Awasi model to their longstanding offerings, investments in the new wellness area, as well as new boats equipped with freshwater showers, enhance the luxury factor. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026 Dave McCabe aboard one of Newport Coastal Adventure’s boats, who alerted other boat operators of the rare sight. — Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 24 Aug. 2026
Verb
Down at the lake, boats just off the shore slowed to listen while swimmers took in the music from floaties. — Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 18 July 2026 Shrimp boats bob in the harbor, American flags flutter from pastel porches and old oak trees draped in Spanish moss offer cool shade. — Noreen Kompanik, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025 Kennebunkport, Maine Lobster boats bob in the waves and beachcombers search for shells. — Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boats
  1. vessels
  2. ships
  3. sails
  4. yachts
  5. ferries
  6. canoes
  7. crafts
  8. rafts
Noun
  • The technology was also tested against deceptive behaviour, an in a different scenario, fishing boats appeared to retreat while vessels from another direction accelerated toward the coastguard ship.
    — Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Four coastguard vessels from northern Cyprus and a passenger vessel took part in rescue operations, the Interior Ministry said, as well as two coastguard helicopters to the area.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of vessels
Noun
  • Newlight projects annual savings of roughly $500,000 for similar ships.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Wichai Yuankham, 35, a factory worker who came to watch the ships arrive, said the naval visit was a welcome boost to the local economy.
    — Mosheh Gains, NBC news, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of ships
Verb
  • Some of my favorites are coming back too, like El Pulpo Magnifico, Duane Flatmo's fire-breathing octopus, and the Monaco, a 40-foot ship with three masts that sails across dust instead of water.
    — Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Better yet, take a coastal cruise with Cape Ann Harbor Tours, which sails past six regional lighthouses.
    — Nicholas DeRenzo, Travel + Leisure, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of sails
Noun
  • Take Quantum of Solace, the 238-footer named for the 2008 Daniel Craig flick that, at the time, was one of just four yachts in the world to have a double-height atrium in the main salon, along with a 16-foot swimming pool.
    — Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The big picture Windstar Cruises is known for its low-key yet upscale yachting-style of cruising on three sailing ships and three motor yachts.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of yachts
Verb
  • The blockage of the strait, which normally ferries 20% of the world's oil, sent global energy prices soaring.
    — Kevin Breuninger,Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Iran has effectively halted trade traveling through the Strait of Hormuz, the maritime trade route that ferries roughly 20% of the world’s petroleum.
    — Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
Definition of ferries
Noun
  • At Rainy Lake, for example, Voyageurs Outfitters and Rainy Lake Aquatics rent canoes, kayaks, and stand-up paddleboards.
    — Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 7 Aug. 2026
  • It was widely reported that there was eight rangers and four canoes heading out across the Boundary Waters.
    — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 29 July 2026
Definition of canoes
Noun
  • Other festival highlights include a giant pumpkin regatta, glass making workshop, grape stomping competition, pumping carving, a youth makers market, crafts, face painting and bumper boats.
    — Cathy Kozlowicz, jsonline.com, 1 Sep. 2026
  • In a voice at once biting and contemplative, eerie and funny, Kasischke crafts poems in which nothing is ever stable or resolved.
    — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of crafts
Noun
  • Some 680 rescuers eventually reached the Gyirong area by foot and via rafts.
    — Niranjan Shrestha, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Lorenzo was with his family in Aruba on August 11 when a boat pulling rafts the family members were on abruptly turned, sending the floating rafts towards another boat, according to the outlet.
    — Susan Young, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of rafts

Browse Nearby Words

boatloads
boats
bob
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Cite this Entry

“Boats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boats. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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