yacht

1 of 2

noun

: any of various recreational watercraft: such as
a
: a sailboat used for racing
b
: a large usually motor-driven craft used for pleasure cruising

yacht

2 of 2

verb

yachted; yachting; yachts

intransitive verb

: to race or cruise in a yacht

Examples of yacht in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The setup gives the yacht a top speed of 16.5 knots and also powers the hotel load. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 4 Mar. 2024 The three suspects escaped custody on Feb. 18 before allegedly seizing the yacht the next day, then were arrested on Feb. 21. Chris Eberhart, Fox News, 28 Feb. 2024 The couple, engaged in 2023, had their dream wedding in Anguilla on a yacht and celebrated by island hopping in the Caribbean Sea. Essence, 28 Feb. 2024 According to Jones, in January 2023, Combs introduced him to the Oscar-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr., 56, and left the two alone in a studio on Combs' yacht. Kimi Robinson, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2024 During the press conference, Junior Simmons of the Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force said that the inmates — who allegedly made their getaway on the couple’s yacht — have been re-arrested and are cooperating. Julia Moore, Peoplemag, 27 Feb. 2024 Think about it: this bag is great for a day on a yacht in Ibiza or with a fun summer dress for a beachside dinner in Barcelona. Chadner Navarro, Travel + Leisure, 27 Feb. 2024 The yacht was also found that same day, Brandel's 71st birthday, abandoned on a beach on the nearby island of St. Vincent. Nikki Battiste, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2024 And based on my conversations, a dream retirement for Gen Xers does not mean lavish holidays and private yachts. Tiffani Potesta, Fortune, 16 Feb. 2024
Verb
Who can believe that between kite-surfing with Richard Branson and yachting on the Mediterranean with Spielberg, Springsteen, and Tom Hanks, Obama actually had time to keep up with the film, music, and book industries? Armond White, National Review, 12 Jan. 2024 As Diana and Dodi continued spending time together in August 1997, from yachting in the Mediterranean to entertaining at Dodi’s residences in London, the press attention surrounding the couple intensified. Lynsey Eidell, Peoplemag, 14 Nov. 2023 Arnold Schwarzenegger likely won't be yachting with Sylvester Stallone anytime soon. Andrea Mandell, Peoplemag, 4 Oct. 2023 Its strong colors and precise geometric shapes also translate well to yachting, with Phoenix 2, Sycara IV, and classic yacht Malahne all striking examples. Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 18 Aug. 2023 On Friday, the model and DiCaprio were spotted yachting together in Sardinia, sparking speculation that the pair was an item. Henry Chandonnet, Peoplemag, 28 July 2023 The trailer shows Barbie and Ken, played by Ryan Gosling, driving in a convertible through the desert, flying in a rocket through space, snowmobiling through the mountains, and yachting through (supposedly) the South China Sea. Rachel Shin, Fortune, 7 July 2023 Methanol hasn’t impacted yachting the way batteries have. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 19 Apr. 2023 By ferrying scientists to and from remote locations, yachting families can take a hands-on approach to ocean conservation. Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 11 Jan. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'yacht.' 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

obsolete Dutch jaght, from Middle Low German jacht, short for jachtschip, literally, hunting ship

First Known Use

Noun

1557, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1836, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of yacht was in 1557

Dictionary Entries Near yacht

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

yacht

1 of 2 noun
: a fairly small ship used for pleasure cruising or racing

yacht

2 of 2 verb
: to race or cruise in a yacht
Etymology

Noun

from obsolete Dutch jaght (now jacht), short for jachtschip, literally, "hunting ship"

Word Origin
In the 16th century, the Dutch were being attacked by pirates and smugglers who managed to escape after their raids because their ships were much faster than the heavy warships used by the Dutch. To solve the problem, the Dutch began building smaller, sleeker, faster craft. This new kind of craft was called a jaght (later spelled jacht) in Dutch. The word was derived from the Dutch phrase jachtschip, literally meaning "hunting ship." In 1660, the Dutch East India Company presented one of these boats to England's King Charles II. He used it for a pleasure boat rather than for chasing pirates. Soon, other wealthy Englishmen wanted boats just like the king's. The style was then copied and improved over the years. The name for this craft also went through a number of changes over the years, from the original jaght, taken from the Dutch, to the yacht spelling we have today.
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