boulder

1 of 2

noun (1)

boul·​der ˈbōl-dər 

variants or less commonly bowlder

: a detached and rounded or much-worn mass of rock

bouldered

ˈbōl-dərd 

adjective

bouldery

ˈbōl-d(ə-)rē 

adjective

bouldering

2 of 2

noun (2)

boul·​der·​ing ˈbōl-d(ə-)riŋ 

: the sport of rock climbing on large boulders or low cliffs

boulder intransitive verb

boulderer

ˈbōl-d(ə-)rər 

noun

Examples of boulder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Moving boulders like sand In 1976, people in the canyon who survived the flood described hearing what sounded like a train coming at them. — Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 27 July 2026

Deeper in are the Kjerag cliffs and a boulder, lodged between two cliffs—one of Norway’s most photographed spots. — Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026

Noun

Eton's new sports center will also feature a climbing wall for bouldering and competitive climbing, as the new Olympic sport is gaining popularity. — Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE, 21 July 2026

Asana is primarily a bouldering gym, meaning climbers ascend shorter walls without ropes or harnesses. — Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 17 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

short for boulder stone, from Middle English bulder ston, partial translation of a word of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish dialect bullersten large stone in a stream, from buller noise + sten stone

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1607, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1920, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for boulder

• bolder
• bowlder
• colder
• folder
• golder
• holder
• molder
• moulder
• older
• polder
• shoulder
• beholder

Kids Definition

boulder

noun

boul·​der ˈbōl-dər 

: a large detached and rounded or worn mass of rock

Geographical Definition

Boulder

geographical name

Boul·​der ˈbōl-dər 

city northwest of Denver in north central Colorado population 97,385