wagon

1 of 2

noun

wag·​on ˈwa-gən How to pronounce wagon (audio)
1
a
: a usually four-wheeled vehicle for transporting bulky commodities and drawn originally by animals
b
: a lighter typically horse-drawn vehicle for transporting goods or passengers
2
British : a railway freight car
3
: a low four-wheeled vehicle with an open rectangular body and a retroflex tongue made for the play or use of a child
4
: a small wheeled table used for the service of a dining room
the dessert wagon
5
: a delivery truck
a milk wagon
6

wagon

2 of 2

verb

wagoned; wagoning; wagons

intransitive verb

: to travel or transport goods by wagon

transitive verb

: to transport (goods) by wagon
Phrases
off the wagon
: in or into a state of no longer abstaining from alcoholic beverages
fell off the wagon
on the wagon
: in or into a state of abstaining from alcoholic beverages

Examples of wagon in a Sentence

Noun Pioneers crossed the American Midwest in wagons. He pulled his stuffed animals around in a little red wagon.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The fields can be visited daily through Mother’s Day, along with activities on the ranch, including tractor wagon rides, mining for gem stones and a strawberry shack. The San Diego Union-Tribune Staff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Mar. 2024 Among the intriguing knickknacks on the shelves were a covered wagon replica and a decorative cluster of Lucite grapes that looked like large marbles. Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 17 Mar. 2024 For just that reason, Conestoga wagons had the controls on the left side, close to the wagon driver’s right hand. Peter Valdes-Dapena, CNN, 2 Mar. 2024 This event will include eclipse viewing, eclipse glasses and an open wagon ride into the wilderness, away from artificial light and with abundant wildlife—possibly the Seneca white deer. Jamie Carter, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 The Prologue’s long, low profile evokes a sporty wagon more than the more upright, practical look of Honda SUVs like the CR-V and Pilot. Mark Phelan, Detroit Free Press, 22 Feb. 2024 According to one theory, Indo-European languages might have been spread by pastoralists traveling in wagons like this Early Bronze Age copper model from Anatolia. Kurt Kleiner, Discover Magazine, 16 Feb. 2024 Mercedes says the sedan will be able to sprint from zero to 63 mph in just 3.8 seconds (the wagon can do the same in 3.9 seconds). Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2024 To help Meter Maid get outside, APA staff members regularly wheeled her outdoors in a wagon. Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024
Verb
And Buck weaves in the fascinating history of the original Oregon Trail, revealing surprising details about everything from mules to wagon design to the tragedies the original pioneers faced. The Editors, Outside Online, 1 June 2019 Chris Bobek, who lives a couple of blocks south of Harrer, pulled daughter Sophie, 3, in a classic fire-red Radio Flyer wagon up to the complex’s main entrance. George Castle, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2022 Other towns have repeatedly fled rivers – Niobrara, Nebraska, hauled its houses by horse and wagon away from flooding in the Missouri River in 1881 and moved again in 1971. Doug Struck, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 July 2021 The farm's dozens of other attractions, from a train and giant jumping pillows to wagon rides to a pumpkin patch, give it almost amusement-park status. Chelsey Lewis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 12 Oct. 2017

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

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Dutch wagen, from Middle Dutch — more at wain

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1606, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of wagon was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near wagon

Cite this Entry

“Wagon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wagon. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

wagon

noun
wag·​on
ˈwag-ən
1
a
: a usually four-wheeled vehicle for transporting goods or passengers
especially : one drawn by animals
2
: a low four-wheeled vehicle with an open rectangular body for the play or use of a child
3
wagoner
ˈwag-ə-nər
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on wagon

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