1
a
nautical
: sufficient distance for maneuvering a ship
Keep a clear berth of the shoals.
b
: an amount of distance maintained for safety
give the fire a wide berth
giving him a wide berth until he is in a better mood
2
a
: the place where a ship lies when at anchor or at a wharf
was docked at her usual berth
b
: a space for an automotive vehicle at rest
a truck-loading berth
3
: a place to sit or sleep especially on a ship or vehicle : accommodation
a comfortable cabin with a deep berth
an upper berth
4
a
: a billet (see billet entry 1 sense 2a) on a ship
waiting for a berth as a ship's surgeon—
Bernard Keelan
Bernard Keelan
berthed; berthing; berths
1
: to bring (something, such as a ship or automotive vehicle) into a berth
The ship was berthed at this pier.
2
: to allot quarters or accommodations to : to allot a berth to
a place to berth the crew
: to come into a berth
where the ship typically berths
Examples of berth in a Sentence
Noun
a comfortable cabin with a deep berth
He has a starting berth on the all-star team.
Verb
The ship was berthed at this pier.
The ship berthed at this pier.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
That means if the Tigers win all six of their games this week, and the rest of the teams below them in the playoff race lose at least four (which isn't possible this week since some of them play each other) then the Tigers can clinch at least a Wild Card berth as early as Monday.
—Christian Romo, Freep.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
The company had planned to fly the vehicle close enough to the space station such that it could be captured and berthed to the orbiting laboratory.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for berth
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Noun
With the Cubs closing in on their first playoff berth since 2020, Hawkins has been involved in revamping the club’s R&D department and streamlining scouting on the pro, amateur and international sides, with a bigger emphasis on data and video rather than in-person evaluations.
—Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025
That means if the Tigers win all six of their games this week, and the rest of the teams below them in the playoff race lose at least four (which isn't possible this week since some of them play each other) then the Tigers can clinch at least a Wild Card berth as early as Monday.
—Christian Romo, Freep.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
Dockworkers were unloading shipping containers from another vessel that was berthed at Pier G before the incident, with truck drivers moving containers to and from the terminal.
—Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2025
The company had planned to fly the vehicle close enough to the space station such that it could be captured and berthed to the orbiting laboratory.
—Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 4 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for berth
Cite this Entry
“Berth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/berth. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
berth
1 of 2 noun1
a
: enough room to maneuver a ship
b
: a safe distance
give it wide berth
2
: a place where a ship lies at anchor or at a wharf
3
: a place to sleep on a ship or train
4
berth
2 of 2 verb
: to bring or come into a berth
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