ferried; ferrying
1
a
: to carry by boat over a body of water
b
: to cross by a ferry
2
a
: to convey (as by aircraft or motor vehicle) from one place to another : transport
b
: to fly (an airplane) from the factory or other shipping point to a designated delivery point or from one base to another
: to cross water in a boat
plural ferries
1
: a place where persons or things are carried across a body of water (such as a river) in a boat
2
3
: a franchise or right to operate a ferry service across a body of water
4
: an organized service and route for flying airplanes especially across a sea or continent for delivery to the user
Examples of ferry in a Sentence
Verb
The cars were ferried across the river.
They ferry supplies to the island.
Noun
Ferries to both islands depart daily.
You can get there by ferry.
We'll meet you at the ferry.
Recent Examples on the Web
CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
The spacecraft is due in the years ahead to help ferry NASA astronauts to the lunar surface and also carry the first humans to Mars, under SpaceX founder Elon Musk's vision.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 9 Oct. 2025
Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 18 Oct. 2025
Accessible only by ferry, the car-free destination is a largely untouched paradise of gorgeous beaches, marshes, and maritime forests.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ferry
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Verb
While thousands of soldiers and rescue teams search for the missing and deliver aid, helicopters are ferrying supplies to isolated zones and private construction firms are helping to reopen key roads.
—CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025
The spacecraft is due in the years ahead to help ferry NASA astronauts to the lunar surface and also carry the first humans to Mars, under SpaceX founder Elon Musk's vision.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 9 Oct. 2025
Noun
Use the Wolfgangseer Advent ferry service to Christmas market-hopping and take in a beautiful panorama of sparkling lights reflected in Lake Wolfgang.
—Sophie Friedman, AFAR Media, 18 Oct. 2025
Accessible only by ferry, the car-free destination is a largely untouched paradise of gorgeous beaches, marshes, and maritime forests.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ferry
Cite this Entry
“Ferry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ferry. Accessed 21 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ferry
1 of 2 verb
fer·ry
ˈfer-ē 
ferried; ferrying
1
a
: to carry by boat over a body of water
b
: to cross by a ferry
2
a
: to carry (as by aircraft or motor vehicle) from one place to another
b
: to deliver (an airplane) by flying it to its destination
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