ferried; ferrying
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
: to cross water in a boat
plural ferries
1
: a place where persons or things are carried across a body of water (such as a river) in a boat
2
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
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
Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 1 Mar. 2026
Even a replacement bus coming from Southampton to ferry the group to Oxford, where another coach was waiting to complete the journey to Sheffield, couldn’t prevent a late arrival home on what should have been a rare day to savour.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2026
Owen Clarke, Outside, 2 Mar. 2026
Additionally, visitors who want to take visit the Lake Chelan community of Stehekin may pay for a third-party ferry.
—Eve Chen, USA Today, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ferry
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Verb
Private security companies have been booking fleets of SUVs to ferry people on the 10-hour drive to Riyadh from Dubai and then charter private planes to take them out of the region, according to people familiar with the matter.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 1 Mar. 2026
Even a replacement bus coming from Southampton to ferry the group to Oxford, where another coach was waiting to complete the journey to Sheffield, couldn’t prevent a late arrival home on what should have been a rare day to savour.
—Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 26 Feb. 2026
Noun
The park’s ferry, which requires a minimum water level of 3,575 feet to operate, is also closed until further notice.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 2 Mar. 2026
Additionally, visitors who want to take visit the Lake Chelan community of Stehekin may pay for a third-party ferry.
—Eve Chen, USA Today, 1 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for ferry
Cite this Entry
“Ferry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ferry. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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