boulder

noun

boul·​der ˈbōl-dər 

variants or less commonly bowlder

: a detached and rounded or much-worn mass of rock

bouldered

ˈbōl-dərd 

adjective

bouldery

ˈbōl-d(ə-)rē 

adjective

Examples of boulder in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The pivot could have been toward Morant or some other talent that some/all in that brain trust consortium identified as a piece to get the roster over the top, instead the ongoing Sisyphean task of pushing the boulder up the play-in mountain. —Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 7 Feb. 2026

There are also boulder-size chunks of moon rocks and meteorites that crash-landed on Earth that children can touch and smell. —John Arlidge, Travel + Leisure, 7 Feb. 2026

Don’t miss the short scramble to the official summit, where there is a trail register marking the spot, surrounded by boulders to perch on. —Maura Fox, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Feb. 2026

The Chiefs’ run over the last decade was akin to moving a boulder uphill. —Sam McDowell 5, Kansas City Star, 5 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

short for boulder stone, from Middle English bulder ston, partial translation of a word of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish dialect bullersten large stone in a stream, from buller noise + sten stone

First Known Use

1607, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for boulder

• bolder
• bowlder
• colder
• folder
• golder
• holder
• molder
• moulder
• older
• polder
• shoulder
• beholder

Kids Definition

boulder

noun

boul·​der ˈbōl-dər 

: a large detached and rounded or worn mass of rock

Geographical Definition

Boulder

geographical name

Boul·​der ˈbōl-dər 

city northwest of Denver in north central Colorado population 97,385