berth

1 of 2

noun

ˈbərth 

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

b

: job, position, place

a starting berth on the team

berth

2 of 2

verb

berthed; berthing; berths

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

: to come into a berth

where the ship typically berths

Synonyms

Noun

• appointment
• billet
• capacity
• connection
• function
• job
• place
• position
• post
• situation

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

Noun

As of Thursday, 11 container vessels were waiting at berth at the Port of Los Angeles. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 27 Sep. 2024

Port Information The Nassau Cruise Port currently offers a total of six operational cruise ship berths. —Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Sep. 2024

Verb

Nine ships are berthed at the Port of Long Beach on Friday. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 27 Sep. 2024

This is a major difference from just one month ago, The Business Standard said, when cargo ships could typically berth at the port within a day of arriving at the outer anchorage. —Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 3 Sep. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English birth, probably from beren to bear + -th

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1667, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing berth

• give (someone or something) a wide berth

Kids Definition

berth

1 of 2 noun

ˈbərth 

1

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

: job sense 3, position

berth

2 of 2 verb

: to bring or come into a berth