kayak

noun

kay·​ak ˈkī-ˌak How to pronounce kayak (audio)
: a light narrow boat that has both ends tapered to a point, is propelled by a double-bladed paddle, and often has a closed top except for an opening in which the paddler sits with the legs extended straight out in front:
a
: a traditional boat that is typically associated with the Indigenous peoples (such as the Aleuts and Inuits) of Alaska, Canada, and Greenland, is usually made of a frame of wood or bone covered with animal skin, and is used especially for hunting and transport
Similar stone pillars guided Inuit seafarers traveling by umiak or kayak along the complex coasts of their realm.Fred Bruemmer
b
: a boat that is based on the traditional kayak and is typically made of plastic or fiberglass and is used especially for recreational purposes
Today's recreationists likewise have discovered that, among paddle-powered boats, the kayak has no equal for its graceful combination of lightness, portability, seaworthiness and speed.Peter Stark
kayak intransitive verb
kayaker noun
kayaking noun

Examples of kayak in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Included with your resort fee is daily bicycle, kayak, and paddleboard rental, as well as pier fishing. Cynthia J Drake, Southern Living, 19 Mar. 2024 Load up your kayak and head to what’s quite possibly the only publicly accessible floating campsite in the state. Pam Leblanc, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Mar. 2024 The waist-deep lake has drawn tourists with kayaks and paddle boards, creating a rare scene on the site of Lake Manly, a former lake in the low-lying Badwater Basin in Death Valley National Park that evaporated tens of thousands of years ago. Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2024 So, the park is welcoming visitors to bring their own kayaks and head out for a float. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 22 Feb. 2024 And the kayak also was very long, the run was very long. Sydney Bucksbaum, EW.com, 21 Feb. 2024 For one glorious month, people could bring their canoes and kayaks to paddle in the shallow waters that had collected in the saltwater flats of the Badwater Basin, a sight not seen since the lake last appeared in 2005. Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024 Hop on a kayak or paddle board to glide through the mangroves with Lazy Dog Adventures in Key West, founded by dog lover Sue Cooper, who brings her Border Collies to work. Angela Caraway-Carlton, Miami Herald, 6 Mar. 2024 The grounds don’t disappoint with two separate docks where new owners can park their boats and enjoy the water via kayak or paddleboard. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 5 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'kayak.' 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

Inuit qayaq

First Known Use

1757, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of kayak was in 1757

Dictionary Entries Near kayak

Cite this Entry

“Kayak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kayak. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

kayak

noun
kay·​ak ˈkī-ˌak How to pronounce kayak (audio)
1
: an Eskimo canoe made of a frame covered with skins except for a small opening in the center
2
: a small canvas-covered canoe resembling a kayak
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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