boatload

noun

boat·​load ˈbōt-ˌlōd How to pronounce boatload (audio)
1
: a load that fills a boat
a boatload of passengers
2
: an indefinitely large number or amount
a boatload of criticism
a boatload of money

Examples of boatload in a Sentence

a boatload of publicity for the new handheld devices
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.
The Cubs received a boatload of prospects no one had heard of, starting the rebuild that couldn’t be called a rebuild. Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 16 June 2025 Late last month, Swift revealed in a lengthy statement on her website that, thanks to negotiations with the private equity firm Shamrock Capital − and, presumably, a boatload of cash − all that music that once belonged to Braun is hers now. Charles Trepany, USA Today, 12 June 2025 Nebula The projector promises quick one-tap setup, runs Google TV and the boatload of streaming apps on the platform, and supports voice commands as well as a good ol' physical remote and a mobile app to control it. New Atlas, 24 Apr. 2025 Courtesy the Missouri Botanical Garden, the Peter H. Raven Library, and the Biodiversity Heritage Library On the docks in England, no one could be sure that the boatloads of orchids were genuine labiatas, but they were proclaimed as such anyway. Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 28 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for boatload

Word History

First Known Use

1625, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of boatload was in 1625

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Boatload.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boatload. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

boatload

noun
boat·​load -ˌlōd How to pronounce boatload (audio)
1
: a load that fills a boat
2
: a large amount
a boatload of money
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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