debark

1 of 2

verb (1)

de·​bark di-ˈbärk How to pronounce debark (audio)
dē-
debarked; debarking; debarks
Synonyms of debarknext
debarkation noun

debark

2 of 2

verb (2)

de·​bark (ˌ)dē-ˈbärk How to pronounce debark (audio)
debarked; debarking; debarks

transitive verb

: to remove bark from
debarker noun

Synonyms of debark

Examples of debark in a Sentence

Verb (1) the seasick passengers debarked as soon as the ship dropped anchor
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Passengers would debark at Country Club Station, near the intersection of what is now Cantrell Road and Kavanaugh Boulevard, and would either walk or ride in a buggy to the country club. Arkansas Online, 27 June 2026 Foresters debarked and chipped the highly infested tree to kill the beetles inside. Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 10 Jan. 2026 However, locals say the tourists who debark for only a few hours but generally sleep and eat aboard ships are a bad deal for the city. Doug Struck, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Aug. 2025 If the wood wasn’t debarked, trees with loose bark layers or split wood that has dried enough to loosen its bark may harbor an array of creatures, such as wood roaches, earwigs, and possibly even overwintering yellowjacket wasp queens. Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 11 Jan. 2024 On June 21, 1948, 1,027 people from the Caribbean debarked the Empire Windrush in London. Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 3 Oct. 2023 The trees are debarked in around another nine years to allow for enough growth time. Gabriella Sotelo, Treehugger, 24 Aug. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

French debarquer, from de- + barque bark (ship)

First Known Use

Verb (1)

1654, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1742, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of debark was in 1654

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Debark.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/debark. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

debark

verb
de·​bark
di-ˈbärk
: to go or put ashore from a ship
debarkation
ˌdē-ˌbär-ˈkā-shən
noun
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