boast

noun \ ˈbōst \

Updated on: 14 Apr 2018

Definition of boast

1 : a statement expressing excessive pride in oneself : the act or an instance of boasting (see ²boast) : brag

It may sound like a boast, but I truly am very wealthy.

2 : a cause for pride

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boastful

play \ˈbōst-fəl\ adjective

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boastfully

play \-fə-lē\ adverb

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boastfulness

noun

See boast defined for English-language learners

See boast defined for kids

Examples of boast in a Sentence

When he says he's the richest man in town, he's not just making an idle boast.
We were offended by his boast that he would easily beat us.
The museum's proudest boast is its collection of rare gems.

Recent Examples of boast from the Web

The banks of the Main river boast walkways and skateparks; museums have been renovated; public transport now runs 24 hours a day at weekends.

— The Economist, "Frankfurt woos London bankers," 17 Mar. 2018
Then Tuesday evening, one of Trump’s favorite retired generals, Jack Keane, analyzed Kim’s button boast on the Fox News Channel, the television network Trump regularly watches.

— philip rucker, Washington Post, "Trump’s tweets rattle the globe, but aides say North Korea policy is carefully calibrated," 5 Jan. 2018
Contrary to the President's boasts, the Affordable Care Act -- minus some federal cost-sharing and the individual insurance mandate -- is poised to hobble on for the foreseeable future.

— gregory krieg, CNN, "What's not in the omnibus is what matters most," 22 Mar. 2018
But el-Sissi insists that the real power rests with the people and boasts of an independent judiciary and parliament, claims disputed by rights groups.

— dan perry, The Christian Science Monitor, "Seven years after Arab Spring, democracy wavers in Middle East," 22 Mar. 2018
But Putin’s boast was perhaps partially in response to the new Nuclear Posture Review the Pentagon released in February.

— alex ward, Vox, "Trump thinks Russia will help solve the problems it created in the first place," 21 Mar. 2018
Despite Trump's boast of an NRA-proof backbone, when the White House announced it's plan to improve school safety, Trump had backed off calling for increasing the age limit to 21, as the Republican Florida governor and legislature had just done.

— jeff darcy, cleveland.com, "Trump caves to NRA on school safety plan: Darcy cartoon," 15 Mar. 2018
The hawker is always full of pompous boasts — lies — and the freak show behind him is sad and disappointing.

— Anchorage Daily News, "Readers write: Letters to the editor, January 28, 2018," 28 Jan. 2018
While that’s a mighty boast, Cat Spit Stout is indeed a phenomenally smooth and silky oatmeal milk stout — pure splendor for the depth of winter.

— josh noel, chicagotribune.com, "Beer of the Month: Cat Spit Stout is luxurious winter beer," 9 Feb. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'boast.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of boast

Middle English boost

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

boast Synonyms

Phrases

a feather in one's cap;

boast

verb

Definition of boast

intransitive verb

1 : to praise oneself extravagantly in speech : speak of oneself with excessive pride

boasting about her accomplishments

2 archaic : glory, exult

transitive verb

1 : to speak of or assert with excessive pride

He liked to boast that he was the richest man in town.

2 a : to possess and often call attention to (something that is a source of pride)

boasts a new stadium

b : have, contain

a room boasting no more than a desk and a chair

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boaster

noun

Recent Examples of boast from the Web

The deal was supposed to be a Trump Tower in Moscow and Sater boasted to Cohen that the tower would get Trump elected president.

— matt apuzzo, BostonGlobe.com, "Read transcript of Trump’s fiery remarks on raid of Michael Cohen’s office," 9 Apr. 2018
Those teams also boast offenses that feasted on a struggling pitching staff, but the book is out on these Orioles, with the core of the lineup back for another year.

— jon meoli, baltimoresun.com, "Orioles' offensive approach challenged early as AL's top teams offer fewer fastballs than ever," 7 Apr. 2018
Some pinstriped Tories boast that Brexit Britain will be a free-market, low-regulation Singapore of the north.

— The Economist, "The promised post-Brexit trade deal with America may never materialise," 5 Apr. 2018
But nearly seven months after suffering a thoracic spine fracture, the player who arrived in Corvallis last season boasting junior college All-American honors is ready to move forward.

— danny moran, OregonLive.com, "Jake Luton returns to practice, embracing competition to be Oregon State starting quarterback," 4 Apr. 2018
The 8,098 square-foot property underwent a down-to-the-studs renovation two years ago, according to the listing — with Laura Rubin Dresner of Baird & Warner — and now boasts stunning features on all four levels.

— natalie stone, PEOPLE.com, "Giuliana and Bill Rancic Celebrate Easter on the Slopes After Listing Chicago Home for $6.8M," 2 Apr. 2018
Trump made a personal phone call to Barr and boasted about her ratings at his rally in Ohio Thursday.

— hunter schwarz, CNN, "Trump and 'Roseanne' are making a conservative case for representation in media," 30 Mar. 2018
The school has its main campus in the city’s Rogers Park neighborhood, a vibrant lakefront enclave whose residents boast is the city neighborhood that best demonstrates the Chicago’s diversity.

— aamer madhani, USA TODAY, "After 33 years of mediocrity, Loyola-Chicago embraces March Madness, Cinderella Ramblers," 21 Mar. 2018
After professionally parting ways with the Kardashian-Jenner brand (by mutual decision) back in November 2017, Kim Kardashian-West's ex-assistant, Stephanie Shepherd, now boasts a not-so-surprising follow-up gig as a model-slash-influencer.

— megan decker, Harper's BAZAAR, "Kim Kardashian’s Ex-Assistant Just Landed A Major Modeling Gig," 16 Mar. 2018

Origin and Etymology of boast

see ¹boast

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of boast

boast, brag, vaunt, crow mean to express pride in oneself or one's accomplishments. boast often suggests ostentation and exaggeration

- boasts of every trivial success

, but it may imply a claiming with proper and justifiable pride.

- the town boasts one of the best museums in the area

brag suggests crudity and artlessness in glorifying oneself.

- bragging of their exploits

vaunt usually connotes more pomp and bombast than boast and less crudity or naïveté than brag.

- vaunted his country's military might

crow usually implies exultant boasting or bragging.

- crowed after winning the championship

boast

verb

Definition of boast

transitive verb

: to shape (stone) roughly in sculpture and stonecutting as a preliminary to finer work

Origin and Etymology of boast

origin unknown

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1823

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Other Fine Arts Terms

Gothic, baroque, bas-relief, limn, oeuvre, pastiche, rococo, sfumato

BOAST Defined for English Language Learners

boast

noun

Definition of boast for English Language Learners

: a statement in which you express too much pride in yourself or in something you have, have done, or are connected to in some way
: a reason to be proud : something impressive that someone or something has or has done