hov·er·board
ˈhə-vər-ˌbȯrd 
ˈhä-
plural hoverboards
in science fiction
: a vehicle in the shape of a board that floats above the ground and is propelled without the use of wheels
Technically, a hoverboard is a levitating platform (that looks like a skateboard without wheels) that can be used for personal transportation. The term was invented for the movie Back to the Future II, where protagonist Marty McFly travels into the future to discover that teenagers are riding on levitating boards without wheels.—
Michael Nuñez
Michael Nuñez
Hov·er·board
ˈhə-vər-ˌbȯrd
ˈhä-
—used for an electrically-powered two-wheeled scooter without an upright handle
Examples of hoverboard in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 31 Mar. 2026
View gallery - 4 images Mad-as-a-hatter British inventor Colin Furze recently set out to create a real-life version of the hoverboard from Back to the Future II.
—Omar Kardoudi
march 22, New Atlas, 22 Mar. 2026
The hoverboard was hypnotizing to folks back then.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026
According to the developers, each season will add new neighborhoods alongside characters, outfits, and hoverboards.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 15 Jan. 2026
After building a flying jet bike and hoverboard, Franky Zapata has created a futuristic drone.
—J. George Gorant, Robb Report, 24 Oct. 2025
Initial episodes will cover the hoverboard, how Guitar Hero became a victim of its own success, and the rise and fall of TikTok predecessor Vine, among other topics.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 22 Sep. 2025
Each of the contestants has the straightforward task of delivering plates to Alex while using either a bicycle, a scooter, or a hoverboard, and each of them reacts in a different way.
—Matthew Jackson, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2025
Hoping to make $5,000 in order to move out, Billy travels tirelessly from one address to the next day and night on his hoverboard.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 8 Aug. 2025
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Noun
Segways, skateboards and hoverboards.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 31 Mar. 2026
View gallery - 4 images Mad-as-a-hatter British inventor Colin Furze recently set out to create a real-life version of the hoverboard from Back to the Future II.
—Omar Kardoudi
march 22, New Atlas, 22 Mar. 2026
The hoverboard was hypnotizing to folks back then.
—Zach Harper, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026
According to the developers, each season will add new neighborhoods alongside characters, outfits, and hoverboards.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 15 Jan. 2026
After building a flying jet bike and hoverboard, Franky Zapata has created a futuristic drone.
—J. George Gorant, Robb Report, 24 Oct. 2025
Initial episodes will cover the hoverboard, how Guitar Hero became a victim of its own success, and the rise and fall of TikTok predecessor Vine, among other topics.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 22 Sep. 2025
Each of the contestants has the straightforward task of delivering plates to Alex while using either a bicycle, a scooter, or a hoverboard, and each of them reacts in a different way.
—Matthew Jackson, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2025
Hoping to make $5,000 in order to move out, Billy travels tirelessly from one address to the next day and night on his hoverboard.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 8 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Hoverboard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hoverboard. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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