plural boats
1
a
: a small vessel for travel on water
b
: ship
2
: a boat-shaped container, utensil, or device
a gravy boat
a laboratory boat
3
informal
: a large car
A lot of people still think Cadillac makes big floaty boats.—
Mark LaNeve
Mark LaNevesee also in the same boat
boated; boating; boats
: to place in or bring into a boat
: to go by boat
Examples of boat in a Sentence
Noun
He tied the boat to the dock.
Cruise ships and other boats filled the harbor.
traveling by boat across the ocean
Verb
We boated over to the island.
boated to the picnic site on an island in the bay
Recent Examples on the Web
Cailey Rizzo, Travel + Leisure, 21 Jan. 2026
The center's Marine Animal Entanglement Response team left Provincetown by boat the same day and found the year-old whale with fishing rope wrapped around its tail.
—Neal Riley, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
Robert Annis, Midwest Living, 19 Jan. 2026
Beyond, the boundless adventures of Patagonia—ski, hike, climb and boat your way through its wonders.
—Duncan Madden, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for boat
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Noun
When boat rentals stop for the winter, plan to take a walk around the basin instead of paddling on it for equally impressive views.
—Cailey Rizzo, Travel + Leisure, 21 Jan. 2026
The center's Marine Animal Entanglement Response team left Provincetown by boat the same day and found the year-old whale with fishing rope wrapped around its tail.
—Neal Riley, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
Verb
But the fun doesn’t end when the mercury rises; Pokagon and neighboring Trine State Recreation Area offer more than 10 miles of hiking trails as well as swimming, fishing, and boating at Lake James and Snow Lake.
—Robert Annis, Midwest Living, 19 Jan. 2026
Beyond, the boundless adventures of Patagonia—ski, hike, climb and boat your way through its wonders.
—Duncan Madden, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for boat
Cite this Entry
“Boat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boat. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
boat
1 of 2 noun1
: a small vessel for travel on water
3
: a boat-shaped utensil
gravy boat
boat
2 of 2 verb1
: to put into or carry in a boat
2
: to travel by boat
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