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
Synonyms
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 WebKirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Nov. 2023
During a recent tour, diggers and trucks were removing sandy brown earth while others were building berths for cargo ships.
—Keir Simmons, NBC News, 15 Nov. 2023
In recent years, the network showing the game has been unable to sign away its last commercial berth until just days before the Big Game.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 2 Nov. 2023
Stories about him had swirled for years, older female journalists warning her to give him a wide berth.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2023
His team had just beaten its L.A. rivals, the Chargers pushing their win streak to four and reveling in the postseason berth clinched along the way.
—Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 17 Nov. 2023
Green led Michigan State to an outright Big Ten title and a second berth in the N.C.A.A. tournament in 1959.
—Richard Goldstein, New York Times, 16 Nov. 2023
Four more cabins—two VIPs and two twins that convert to doubles—are located on the lower deck, each with oversized windows and the option to add a Pullman berth, allowing Seaflower to sleep 10 guests.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 10 Nov. 2023
From the comfort of a second-class sleeper berth, passengers get an unfiltered view of everyday life as the train inches along the backs of huts where buffalo roam, kids play cricket, and the smell of fried cooking wafts through the open doors.
—Monisha Rajesh, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Oct. 2023
John Kelly, Washington Post, 3 Oct. 2023
For those who seek something out of the ordinary as a full-time home, a weekend getaway, or maybe even an art studio or workspace, one of the four floating homes berthed in Santa Barbara Harbor is now available to an iconoclast buyer for $4.9 million.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 20 Sep. 2023
And thanks to its many canals and beaches, Lee County is a haven for those seeking idyllic waterfront views and a calm spot to berth their boat.
—Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 4 June 2023
When not deployed, the USS Cooperstown will be berthed in Mayport, FL.
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 6 May 2023
Guillet planned to convert the ship into a floating dormitory for college students, but finding a place to berth the warehouse-size vessel proved too expensive.
—Curbed, 21 Jan. 2022
So, visibility to a container on land moving by rail or truck matters more than visibility to when a ship will berth.
—Steve Banker, Forbes, 17 May 2022
Smaller tankers could berth alongside it to access its oil.
—The New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2021
Another tanker could berth next to the ship and—while pumping inert gas into the Safer’s oil tanks—suck out its Marib crude.
—The New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2021
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Noun
Bulldogs had inside track to Mountain West championship appearance before back-to-back losses to San Jose State and New Mexico eliminated them from contention
Fresno State’s conference championship dreams were dashed over the weekend, although the Bulldogs still have a bowl berth in their future.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Nov. 2023
During a recent tour, diggers and trucks were removing sandy brown earth while others were building berths for cargo ships.
—Keir Simmons, NBC News, 15 Nov. 2023
In recent years, the network showing the game has been unable to sign away its last commercial berth until just days before the Big Game.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 2 Nov. 2023
Stories about him had swirled for years, older female journalists warning her to give him a wide berth.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 30 Sep. 2023
His team had just beaten its L.A. rivals, the Chargers pushing their win streak to four and reveling in the postseason berth clinched along the way.
—Jeff Miller, Los Angeles Times, 17 Nov. 2023
Green led Michigan State to an outright Big Ten title and a second berth in the N.C.A.A. tournament in 1959.
—Richard Goldstein, New York Times, 16 Nov. 2023
Four more cabins—two VIPs and two twins that convert to doubles—are located on the lower deck, each with oversized windows and the option to add a Pullman berth, allowing Seaflower to sleep 10 guests.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 10 Nov. 2023
From the comfort of a second-class sleeper berth, passengers get an unfiltered view of everyday life as the train inches along the backs of huts where buffalo roam, kids play cricket, and the smell of fried cooking wafts through the open doors.
—Monisha Rajesh, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Oct. 2023
Verb
Pleasure boats were neatly berthed across from us at a private mooring spot.
—John Kelly, Washington Post, 3 Oct. 2023
For those who seek something out of the ordinary as a full-time home, a weekend getaway, or maybe even an art studio or workspace, one of the four floating homes berthed in Santa Barbara Harbor is now available to an iconoclast buyer for $4.9 million.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 20 Sep. 2023
And thanks to its many canals and beaches, Lee County is a haven for those seeking idyllic waterfront views and a calm spot to berth their boat.
—Dobrina Zhekova, Travel + Leisure, 4 June 2023
When not deployed, the USS Cooperstown will be berthed in Mayport, FL.
—Dan Schlossberg, Forbes, 6 May 2023
Guillet planned to convert the ship into a floating dormitory for college students, but finding a place to berth the warehouse-size vessel proved too expensive.
—Curbed, 21 Jan. 2022
So, visibility to a container on land moving by rail or truck matters more than visibility to when a ship will berth.
—Steve Banker, Forbes, 17 May 2022
Smaller tankers could berth alongside it to access its oil.
—The New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2021
Another tanker could berth next to the ship and—while pumping inert gas into the Safer’s oil tanks—suck out its Marib crude.
—The New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2021
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'berth.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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
Time Traveler
The first known use of berth was
in the 15th century
Phrases Containing berth
Dictionary Entries Near berth
Cite this Entry
“Berth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/berth. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023.
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Kids 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
More from Merriam-Webster on berth
Nglish: Translation of berth for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of berth for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about berth
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