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 of ferry

Verb

• haul
• transport
• carry

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

Lunar controversy While NASA has built the rocket and spacecraft designed to launch astronauts off Earth and to the lunar vicinity, SpaceX has a nearly $3 billion contract to build their lunar lander, or the vehicle that will ferry the crew from their spacecraft down to the moon’s surface. —Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 9 Feb. 2026

Acknin said drones that ferry mail and spare parts between ships save thousands of dollars each trip by reducing the need for helicopters. —Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 6 Feb. 2026

Noun

Ōkunoshima is accessible by ferry from Tadanoumi Station, located in the small city of Takehara. —Madeline Weinfield, Travel + Leisure, 9 Feb. 2026

An AirFish can complete the journey in 25 minutes, half the time of a typical ferry. —Angelica Ang, Fortune, 9 Feb. 2026

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

Rhymes for ferry

• aerie
• airy
• arie
• barre
• cherry
• clary
• dairy
• eyrie
• faerie
• faery
• fairy
• hairy

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