plural boats
1
a
: a small vessel for travel on water
b
: ship
2
: a boat-shaped container, utensil, or device
a gravy boat
a laboratory boat
3
informal
: a large car
A lot of people still think Cadillac makes big floaty boats.—
Mark LaNeve
Mark LaNeve
see also:
boated; boating; boats
: to place in or bring into a boat
: to go by boat
Examples of boat in a Sentence
Noun
He tied the boat to the dock.
Cruise ships and other boats filled the harbor.
traveling by boat across the ocean
Verb
We boated over to the island.
boated to the picnic site on an island in the bay
Recent Examples on the Web
Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 23 Apr. 2026
In midst of the 1996-1997 race and battling hurricane-force winds and waves reaching six stories high, Goss decided to turn back into the storm to save fellow competitor Raphaël Dinelli, whose boat had capsized thousands of miles from land.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 22 Apr. 2026
Lissette Gonzalez, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Much of the area is open to boating, hiking and fishing.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for boat
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
This is the place to organize unforgettable outdoor adventures, from fishing trips and private charter boat excursions to guided jaunts on a traditional Hawaiian sailing canoe.
—Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 23 Apr. 2026
In midst of the 1996-1997 race and battling hurricane-force winds and waves reaching six stories high, Goss decided to turn back into the storm to save fellow competitor Raphaël Dinelli, whose boat had capsized thousands of miles from land.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
The boating forecast in South Florida on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.
—Lissette Gonzalez, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Much of the area is open to boating, hiking and fishing.
—Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for boat
Cite this Entry
“Boat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boat. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
boat
1 of 2 noun1
: a small vessel for travel on water
3
: a boat-shaped utensil
gravy boat
boat
2 of 2 verb1
: to put into or carry in a boat
2
: to travel by boat
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