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
Dan Albano, Oc Register, 12 June 2026
Triple-berth cabins are available in limited numbers; families of four usually need multiple cabins unless booking the Owner’s Suite.
—Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 June 2026
Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 12 June 2026
La Spezia, a city near Cinque Terre, offers two marinas for very big boats—Porto Mirabello, which can berth yachts up to 140 meters, and Porto Lotti, over 100 meters.
—Catherine Sabino, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for berth
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Noun
Los Alamitos edged Trinity League champion Santa Margarita by one stroke at the CIF-SCGA SoCal Regional for the third and final state berth.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 12 June 2026
Triple-berth cabins are available in limited numbers; families of four usually need multiple cabins unless booking the Owner’s Suite.
—Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 June 2026
Verb
Getting Canadarm2 back online will be critical to berth some cargo ships at the space station, which carry food, equipment and other supplies to the astronauts, as well as to perform a share of maintenance on the orbiting complex.
—Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 12 June 2026
La Spezia, a city near Cinque Terre, offers two marinas for very big boats—Porto Mirabello, which can berth yachts up to 140 meters, and Porto Lotti, over 100 meters.
—Catherine Sabino, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for berth
Cite this Entry
“Berth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/berth. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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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