motorboat

noun

mo·​tor·​boat ˈmō-tər-ˌbōt How to pronounce motorboat (audio)
: a boat propelled usually by an internal combustion engine
motorboater noun
motorboating noun

Examples of motorboat in a Sentence

motorboats are banned on the lake because they are a hazard to swimmers
Recent Examples on the Web Boating education is mandatory for anyone of legal age to operate a motorboat or sailboat who was born after 1985. The Sentinel-Record, arkansasonline.com, 8 Feb. 2024 And did my ears deceive me, or was that Ellen pretending to motorboat Susan's boobs at the end of the episode? EW.com, 26 Oct. 2023 Rescue teams were then dispatched by car and motorboat. Josh Pennington, CNN, 18 Feb. 2024 The Japanese conglomerate Yamaha Motor Co., best known for its motorcycles and motorboats, is now looking to expand into this growing marketplace, too. IEEE Spectrum, 12 Feb. 2024 Using a sports rental, like a snowmobile or motorboat, is also a creative way to get to know the area. Jennifer Prince, Travel + Leisure, 8 Jan. 2024 To this day, four fifths of their food come from the land and sea—now via snowmobile and motorboat. Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 19 Dec. 2023 Using canoes and motorboats, the five team members have trekked out in rivers from sunrise to past sundown in the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge to rescue rabbits. Salvador Hernandez, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2023 Your feet sink a bit into the mushy floor, which trembles slightly when a motorboat speeds past. Tim Brinkhof, Discover Magazine, 12 Nov. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'motorboat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1890, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of motorboat was in 1890

Dictionary Entries Near motorboat

Cite this Entry

“Motorboat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/motorboat. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

motorboat

noun
mo·​tor·​boat -ˌbōt How to pronounce motorboat (audio)
: a boat driven by a motor

More from Merriam-Webster on motorboat

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