plural boats
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
Mark LaNeve
boated; boating; boats
: to place in or bring into a boat
: to go by boat
Synonyms
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 WebGabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
Many areas of Mozambique are only accessible by boat as the country has a poor road network.
—Landon Mion, Fox News, 8 Apr. 2024
Miller had only positive comments about the video, which featured scenes of Siwa dancing at a party on a boat, singing in a body of water, flirting with a woman on the beach and interacting sensually with more women.
—Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2024
There’s a man called the Odysseus of Honey who travels around by boats getting fresh honey from the bees.
—Mark Ellwood, Fortune Europe, 6 Apr. 2024
Both boats have fire pits, video walls, a basketball court and wild chandeliers, but this time Khan’s added an underwater Nemo lounge, a duplex owner’s suite, and a retro neon dance floor.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2024
This year’s Copley Cup is a limited-competition exhibition for the second straight year, this time matching a boat of Brown University alumni against a touring eight representing the United Kingdom Armed Forces.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024
Related article Her name is on a pub, a boat and an AI platform.
—Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024
Munchkin Bath Toy, Little Boat Train There is so much more than meets the eye with these colorful little boats.
—Christin Perry, Parents, 29 Mar. 2024
Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024
The 221-acre Fort Abercrombie National Historic Site has relics from World War II, plus boating facilities, campsites, and hiking trails that pass along mossy forests, rocky beaches, and stunning cliffside views.
—Susan Portnoy, Travel + Leisure, 29 Mar. 2024
The club raised $1,200 for their excursions at a recent Bart Hall show that featured fishing, boating and hunting at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2024
Continue reading here… 'BIG HEART' - 'Wicked Tuna' star Charlie Griffin killed in boating accident along with his dog.
—Fox News Staff, Fox News, 9 Mar. 2024
And concrete is a pretty common material used in the boating business.
—Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024
Experts say that boating accidents are easily preventable and boating is comparatively safer than driving a car, according to Paul Barnard, recreational boating safety program manager at the U.S. Coast Guard Eighth District in New Orleans.
—USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2024
Members of the sheriff’s office search and rescue team, dive team, boating safety unit and other agencies responded to the scene to aid in the recovery of the two children.
—Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 23 Feb. 2024
Located just minutes from the hiking, fishing and boating amenities of Blue Springs Lake, Fleming Park, and Lake Jacomo, and is less than 20 minutes from three area golf courses.
—Summit Homes, Kansas City Star, 24 Jan. 2024
Noun
The Coast Guard said the search resumed after a good Samaritan located a vessel matching the description of the boat Kale was aboard.
—Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 10 Apr. 2024
Many areas of Mozambique are only accessible by boat as the country has a poor road network.
—Landon Mion, Fox News, 8 Apr. 2024
Miller had only positive comments about the video, which featured scenes of Siwa dancing at a party on a boat, singing in a body of water, flirting with a woman on the beach and interacting sensually with more women.
—Esme Mazzeo, Peoplemag, 7 Apr. 2024
There’s a man called the Odysseus of Honey who travels around by boats getting fresh honey from the bees.
—Mark Ellwood, Fortune Europe, 6 Apr. 2024
Both boats have fire pits, video walls, a basketball court and wild chandeliers, but this time Khan’s added an underwater Nemo lounge, a duplex owner’s suite, and a retro neon dance floor.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2024
This year’s Copley Cup is a limited-competition exhibition for the second straight year, this time matching a boat of Brown University alumni against a touring eight representing the United Kingdom Armed Forces.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Apr. 2024
Related article Her name is on a pub, a boat and an AI platform.
—Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN, 4 Apr. 2024
Munchkin Bath Toy, Little Boat Train There is so much more than meets the eye with these colorful little boats.
—Christin Perry, Parents, 29 Mar. 2024
Verb
His four-year service, filled with travels to over 25 countries, sparked a lifelong passion for the boating industry.
—Tyler Shepherd, USA TODAY, 1 Apr. 2024
The 221-acre Fort Abercrombie National Historic Site has relics from World War II, plus boating facilities, campsites, and hiking trails that pass along mossy forests, rocky beaches, and stunning cliffside views.
—Susan Portnoy, Travel + Leisure, 29 Mar. 2024
The club raised $1,200 for their excursions at a recent Bart Hall show that featured fishing, boating and hunting at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2024
Continue reading here… 'BIG HEART' - 'Wicked Tuna' star Charlie Griffin killed in boating accident along with his dog.
—Fox News Staff, Fox News, 9 Mar. 2024
And concrete is a pretty common material used in the boating business.
—Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 14 Mar. 2024
Experts say that boating accidents are easily preventable and boating is comparatively safer than driving a car, according to Paul Barnard, recreational boating safety program manager at the U.S. Coast Guard Eighth District in New Orleans.
—USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2024
Members of the sheriff’s office search and rescue team, dive team, boating safety unit and other agencies responded to the scene to aid in the recovery of the two children.
—Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 23 Feb. 2024
Located just minutes from the hiking, fishing and boating amenities of Blue Springs Lake, Fleming Park, and Lake Jacomo, and is less than 20 minutes from three area golf courses.
—Summit Homes, Kansas City Star, 24 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'boat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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
Articles Related to boat
Dictionary Entries Near boat
Cite this Entry
“Boat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boat. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
boat
1 of 2 noun1
: a small vessel for travel on water
3
: a boat-shaped utensil
gravy boat
boat
2 of 2 verb1
: to put into or carry in a boat
2
: to travel by boat
More from Merriam-Webster on boat
Nglish: Translation of boat for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of boat for Arabic Speakers
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