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

• 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

For the 2025 race, Sweet will fly nine helicopters in and out of the track all day, with each helicopter ferrying five or six people. —Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 2 July 2025

Buggies—there are 67 of them available to guests—ferried me up and down the gentle hills, which added a sense of adventure to this green and sprawling place. —Marcia Desanctis, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2025

Noun

Monhegan Island After a short ferry ride from the mainland, birders can encounter a fascinating array of species across Monhegan Island, a popular destination for migrating songbirds during both spring and fall. —Jared Ranahan, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025

Those who make it to Santa Cruz after an hourlong ferry ride out of Ventura are rewarded with 77 miles of craggy coastline cliffs, vast sea caves and vibrant tide pools. —Paul Bersebach, Oc Register, 25 June 2025

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