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
Steve Lyttle, Charlotte Observer, 30 Oct. 2025
His routes needed to hit points of interest while also giving the animals a wide berth where appropriate.
—AFAR Media, 30 Oct. 2025
Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2025
The dock will be 657 feet long, large enough to berth the Navy’s newest fast-attack submarines, and built to last 150 years.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for berth
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Noun
The Royals finished 20-15, losing in the conference tournament semifinals, but gaining a berth in the College Basketball Invitational tournament.
—Steve Lyttle, Charlotte Observer, 30 Oct. 2025
His routes needed to hit points of interest while also giving the animals a wide berth where appropriate.
—AFAR Media, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
Astronaut activity Yui worked with his Expedition 73 crewmates and ground controllers to check out PROX, a device that will be used when Japan's next-generation cargo vehicle, the HTV-X, approaches the International Space Station for berthing.
—Robert Z. Pearlman, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2025
The dock will be 657 feet long, large enough to berth the Navy’s newest fast-attack submarines, and built to last 150 years.
—Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 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 4 Nov. 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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