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
Synonyms
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
Jack Guy, CNN, 3 Sep. 2023
In addition to ferrying crews to and from the station, SpaceX also holds a contract from NASA to fly cargo and supplies there, and flies other missions for the Pentagon and the intelligence community.
—Christian Davenport, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2023
Although Burning Man officially begins on August 27, Burners ferrying art cars and installations will begin trickling into the playa sooner to begin constructing the city.
—Evan Haddad, USA TODAY, 23 Aug. 2023
When India fired up its first rocket in 1963, scientists operated from a small church in the south Indian fishing village of Thumba and parts of the spacecraft were ferried to the launch site on bicycles.
—Sushmita Pathak, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Aug. 2023
Penguins morphed to Harlequins ferried by the bushel to and from the Strand.
—Jane Shore, The New Yorker, 31 July 2023
The Pilot has been ferrying families since late 2002, while the Grand Highlander is a new addition to the three-row aisle, filling in a gap between the smaller Toyota Highlander and the hulking Sequoia.
—Elana Scherr, Car and Driver, 30 Aug. 2023
In July, 26 men were taken to hospitals after three lorries, two ferrying migrant workers, collided on a major highway.
—Heather Chen, CNN, 27 Aug. 2023
In the meantime, many of Blue Origin’s flights have ferried wealthy tourists on brief jaunts into space, including, in 2021, Bezos himself.
—Zachary Mider, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2023
Valeria Ferraro, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Sep. 2023
With racial tensions still simmering two years after a riot in Harlem, Mayor Fiorello La Guardia hopped a ferry for Staten Island.
—John Freeman Gill, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2023
There’s a ferry stop in Torno with service to Bellagio, Varenna, and other charming villages around the lake, and the hotel is just an hour's drive from Milan-Malpensa Airport.
—Samantha Lauriello, Travel + Leisure, 6 Sep. 2023
However, business and ferry services on the smaller islands (especially on the Andaman Sea side) will shut down as the low season approaches.
—Rick Jordan, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Aug. 2023
Also starring Eva Longoria. BETWEEN TWO WORLDS A writer (Juliette Binoche) goes undercover to investigate the exploitation of the working class in the French port city of Caen, landing a job on a cross-channel ferry and developing close ties with the other cleaning women.
—Dallasnews.com Staff, Dallas News, 31 Aug. 2023
When the ferry docked, a second, larger brawl ensued, with one man wielding a deck chair.
—Patrik Jonsson, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Aug. 2023
See all the available ferry terminals and times here.
—Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 1 Sep. 2023
In a meeting with the Alaska Marine Highway Operations Board in August, ferry system director Craig Tornga said the ferry system remains on track to issue a request for proposals in September.
—James Brooks, Anchorage Daily News, 31 Aug. 2023
See More
Verb
The tourist economy also took a hit after boats used to ferry visitors around the lake were stranded as waters receded.
—Jack Guy, CNN, 3 Sep. 2023
In addition to ferrying crews to and from the station, SpaceX also holds a contract from NASA to fly cargo and supplies there, and flies other missions for the Pentagon and the intelligence community.
—Christian Davenport, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2023
Although Burning Man officially begins on August 27, Burners ferrying art cars and installations will begin trickling into the playa sooner to begin constructing the city.
—Evan Haddad, USA TODAY, 23 Aug. 2023
When India fired up its first rocket in 1963, scientists operated from a small church in the south Indian fishing village of Thumba and parts of the spacecraft were ferried to the launch site on bicycles.
—Sushmita Pathak, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Aug. 2023
Penguins morphed to Harlequins ferried by the bushel to and from the Strand.
—Jane Shore, The New Yorker, 31 July 2023
The Pilot has been ferrying families since late 2002, while the Grand Highlander is a new addition to the three-row aisle, filling in a gap between the smaller Toyota Highlander and the hulking Sequoia.
—Elana Scherr, Car and Driver, 30 Aug. 2023
In July, 26 men were taken to hospitals after three lorries, two ferrying migrant workers, collided on a major highway.
—Heather Chen, CNN, 27 Aug. 2023
In the meantime, many of Blue Origin’s flights have ferried wealthy tourists on brief jaunts into space, including, in 2021, Bezos himself.
—Zachary Mider, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2023
Noun
Commercial ferries and Italian military vessels were taking newcomers from Lampedusa to mainland Italy.
—Valeria Ferraro, BostonGlobe.com, 14 Sep. 2023
With racial tensions still simmering two years after a riot in Harlem, Mayor Fiorello La Guardia hopped a ferry for Staten Island.
—John Freeman Gill, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2023
There’s a ferry stop in Torno with service to Bellagio, Varenna, and other charming villages around the lake, and the hotel is just an hour's drive from Milan-Malpensa Airport.
—Samantha Lauriello, Travel + Leisure, 6 Sep. 2023
However, business and ferry services on the smaller islands (especially on the Andaman Sea side) will shut down as the low season approaches.
—Rick Jordan, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Aug. 2023
Also starring Eva Longoria. BETWEEN TWO WORLDS A writer (Juliette Binoche) goes undercover to investigate the exploitation of the working class in the French port city of Caen, landing a job on a cross-channel ferry and developing close ties with the other cleaning women.
—Dallasnews.com Staff, Dallas News, 31 Aug. 2023
When the ferry docked, a second, larger brawl ensued, with one man wielding a deck chair.
—Patrik Jonsson, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Aug. 2023
See all the available ferry terminals and times here.
—Kathryn Romeyn, Travel + Leisure, 1 Sep. 2023
In a meeting with the Alaska Marine Highway Operations Board in August, ferry system director Craig Tornga said the ferry system remains on track to issue a request for proposals in September.
—James Brooks, Anchorage Daily News, 31 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ferry.' 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
Verb
Middle English ferien, from Old English ferian to carry, convey; akin to Old English faran to go — more at fare
First Known Use
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3
Time Traveler
The first known use of ferry was
before the 12th century
Dictionary Entries Near ferry
Cite this Entry
“Ferry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ferry. Accessed 23 Sep. 2023.
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Kids 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
More from Merriam-Webster on ferry
Nglish: Translation of ferry for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of ferry for Arabic Speakers
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