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lifeboat

noun

life·​boat ˈlīf-ˌbōt How to pronounce lifeboat (audio)
Synonyms of lifeboatnext
: a sturdy buoyant boat (such as one carried by a ship) for use in an emergency and especially in saving lives at sea

Examples of lifeboat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
However, this left the three-person relief crew of the Shenzhou 21 mission, temporarily without a lifeboat that could bring them home in the event of an emergency. Brett Tingley, Space.com, 2 Dec. 2025 Years later, while aboard the sinking ship, Isidor refused to get on a lifeboat, wanting other men to go first. Sam Gillette, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025 The couple’s last moments have been widely documented—they were even depicted in James Cameron’s 1997 blockbuster Titanic—as both reportedly refused lifeboats in order to stay together. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 24 Nov. 2025 The pair had been directed to lifeboat eight, but Isidor had refused to board while there were younger men barred from boarding, according to documents from the UK’s National Archives. Lianne Kolirin, CNN Money, 21 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lifeboat

Word History

First Known Use

1797, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lifeboat was in 1797

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Cite this Entry

“Lifeboat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lifeboat. Accessed 6 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

lifeboat

noun
life·​boat -ˌbōt How to pronounce lifeboat (audio)
: a sturdy boat (as one carried by a ship) for use in an emergency and especially for saving lives at sea
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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