ferry

1 of 2

verb

fer·​ry ˈfer-ē 

ˈfe-rē

ferried; ferrying

transitive verb

1

a

: to carry by boat over a body of water

b

: to cross by a ferry

2

a

: to convey (as by aircraft or motor vehicle) from one place to another : transport

b

: to fly (an airplane) from the factory or other shipping point to a designated delivery point or from one base to another

intransitive verb

: to cross water in a boat

ferry

2 of 2

noun

plural ferries

1

: a place where persons or things are carried across a body of water (such as a river) in a boat

2

: ferryboat

3

: a franchise or right to operate a ferry service across a body of water

4

: an organized service and route for flying airplanes especially across a sea or continent for delivery to the user

Synonyms

Verb

• bear
• carry
• cart
• convey
• haul
• lug
• pack
• tote
• transport

Examples of ferry in a Sentence

Verb

The cars were ferried across the river.

They ferry supplies to the island.

Noun

Ferries to both islands depart daily.

You can get there by ferry.

We'll meet you at the ferry.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The director of Godzilla (2014) and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) ferried Scarlett Johansson, Jonathan Bailey, Mahershala Ali, Rupert Friend, and the rest of his cast to shoot Jurassic World Rebirth in Southeast Asia. —Nick Romano, EW.com, 18 Dec. 2024

Cruise ships currently moor in the caldera, and passengers are ferried by tender to Fira’s small old port, where a cable car whisks them up to the caldera-side capital Fira. —Helen Iatrou, AFAR Media, 16 Dec. 2024

Noun

The Olympic Peninsula to British Columbia Walking & Hiking Tour offers the chance to watch seabirds, whales, and other marine life by shore and sea, on ferries, in kayaks, and from waterfront hotels. —Everett Potter, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024

There, on the ferry, was a labourer eating oysters using a jack knife taken from his pocket, tossing shell after shell overboard. —Simon Hughes, The Athletic, 20 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English ferien, from Old English ferian to carry, convey; akin to Old English faran to go — more at fare

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Kids Definition

ferry

1 of 2 verb

fer·​ry ˈfer-ē 

ferried; ferrying

1

a

: to carry by boat over a body of water

b

: to cross by a ferry

2

a

: to carry (as by aircraft or motor vehicle) from one place to another

b

: to deliver (an airplane) by flying it to its destination

ferry

2 of 2 noun

plural ferries

1

: a place where persons or things are ferried

2

: ferryboat