duck

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈdək

plural ducks

often attributive

Synonyms of duck next

or plural duck

: any of various swimming birds (family Anatidae, the duck family) in which the neck and legs are short, the feet typically webbed, the bill often broad and flat, and the sexes usually different from each other in plumage

—often used figuratively in phrases like have one's ducks in a row, get one's ducks in a row, or put one's ducks in a row to describe being or becoming thoroughly prepared or organized

Her program's 10-week curriculum … uses a budget book to help first-timers get their financial ducks in a row.—

Eileen Jenkins

I'm to prepare for a formal review in two weeks. Reserve a conference room. Get all my ducks in a row.—

Chuck Palahniuk

The association was set to move forward last spring, then realized it didn't have its ducks in a row and essentially requested a Congressional bailout.—

Pat Forde

I was sure I had all of my ducks in a row before the event finally arrived. Somehow, it didn't turn out as planned.—

Jerry Carlson

… had prepared for a year, meeting with institutional investors and putting its ducks in a row for public scrutiny for months …—

Alex Konrad

: the flesh of any of these birds used as food

The menu features roast duck.

: a female duck compare drake

: person, creature

You lucky duck!

Illustration of duck

1 bean
2 bill
3 nostril
4 head
5 eye
6 auricular region
7 neck
8 cape
9 shoulder
10 11 wing coverts
12 saddle
13 secondaries
14 primaries
15 rump
16 drake feathers
17 tail
18 tail coverts
19 down
20 shank
21 web
22 breast
23 wing front
24 wing bow

duck

2 of 4

verb

ducked; ducking; ducks

intransitive verb

: to lower the head or body suddenly : dodge

: bow, bob

: to move quickly

: to evade a duty, question, or responsibility

: to plunge under the surface of water

: to descend suddenly : dip

transitive verb

: to lower (the head, the body, etc.) quickly : bow

: avoid, evade

duck the issue

British : to thrust (someone or something) underwater : dunk

ducker noun

duck

3 of 4

noun (2)

: an instance of ducking

duck

4 of 4

noun (3)

: a durable closely woven usually cotton fabric

ducks plural : light clothes and especially trousers made of duck

Examples of duck in a Sentence

Verb The ceiling was so low I had to duck my head. He ducked his head so they wouldn't see him. We can't afford to duck the issue any longer. They've been ducking each other for months. She ducked into a store when it started to rain. He ducked around a corner.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

On Monday, the Masters put out a video of him touring the Augusta National clubhouse for the first time, an incredible video simply for the access, but equally as entertaining to see Lamprecht ducking under doors and his feet hanging off the bed in the Crow’s Nest. —

Jordan Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 12 Apr. 2024 Palestinians could be seen ducking as multiple rounds of gunfire could be heard in the background. —

NBC News, 1 Mar. 2024 Shocking footage of the attack showed how victims fled for their lives and ducked to safety in horror, with the venue transformed into an inferno. —

Matthew Chance, CNN, 29 Mar. 2024 Firefighters at the firehouse across the street ducked for cover and witnessed part of the shooting. —

Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 22 Mar. 2024 One witness’ video obtained by ABC News 7 documents the subway passengers after the shooting all ducking for cover in the middle of the subway car. —

Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 15 Mar. 2024 The legend began in 1903 with a humble saloon in Tampa where trolley conductors and cigar-factory workers ducked in for a slurp of strong coffee. —

Andrew Barrett Schrader, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024 Ukrainian soldiers spent hours ducking in trenches as artillery exploded around them, then dashed for the safety of an armored personnel carrier — only to be chased through the open rear ramp of the vehicle by an exploding drone. —

Maria Varenikova, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024 Billy Reid Billy Reid is a prominent Southern clothing designer, so why not duck into the branch on Magazine Street and outfit yourself like a Southern lady or gentleman? —

Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 19 Mar. 2024

Noun

And from the ducks came eggs that were good for baking, Green added. —

Judith Prieve, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024 From January 2022 to November 2023, researchers collected samples from bird species ranging from wild ducks and geese to shorebirds and raptors. —

Apoorva Mandavilli, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2024 But overall the subtle negative feedback, like Valentine [Howell Jr.]’s duck being lightly smoked, means everyone did quite well in this Quickfire. —

Buddha Lo, Peoplemag, 28 Mar. 2024 Amos picked the duck—in a decision that influenced his entire industry and how its products are still sold today. —

Maria Aspan, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2024 For Clock’s extra clue, the Men in Black brought out a rubber duck with Cannon’s name on the bottom. —

Dana Rose Falcone, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024 Baby goats, ducks, geese, deer, foxes, raccoons, opossums, skunks, pet cats and other animals have tested positive. —

Jen Christensen, CNN, 3 Apr. 2024 The muscovy duck is native to Mexico, Central America, and South America. —

Amanda Gardner, Health, 30 Mar. 2024 Federal, Winchester, and Remington are all still shipping 10-gauge ammo every summer before duck season. —

Joe Genzel, Outdoor Life, 28 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'duck.' 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 (1)

Middle English duk, doke, from Old English dūce

Verb

Middle English douken; akin to Old High German tūhhan to dive, Old English dūce duck

Noun (3)

Dutch doek cloth; akin to Old High German tuoh cloth

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 3

Noun (2)

1554, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1640, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of duck was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Duck.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/duck. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

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Kids Definition

duck

1 of 4 noun

ˈdək

plural duck or ducks

: any of various typically web-footed swimming birds with the neck and legs short, the body heavy, the bill often broad and flat, and the males and females usually differing in color

also : the flesh of a duck used as food

duck

2 of 4 verb

: to thrust or plunge underwater

: to lower the head or body suddenly

: to move quickly : disappear suddenly

he ducked around the corner to escape detection

: to evade a duty, question, or responsibility : dodge entry 2

ducked our question

ducker noun

duck

3 of 4 noun

: a coarse usually cotton cloth

plural : clothes made of duck

duck

4 of 4 noun

: an amphibious truck

Etymology

Noun

Old English dūce "duck"

Verb

Middle English douken "thrust under water"

Noun

from Dutch doek "cloth"

Noun

altered form of DUKW, military code name for this vehicle

Medical Definition

duck

noun

ˈdək

plural ducks or duck

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duck

noun (1)

Illustration of duck

verb

noun (2)

noun (3)

Synonyms

Examples of duck in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near duck

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition