mo·tor·boat·ing
ˈmō-tər-ˌbō-tiŋ 
1
: the activity of riding in a motorboat for leisure
The former was fronted by a vocal quartet that … featured an ironic-considering-the-weather song, "Pontoon," an ode to summer motorboating.—
John Serba, The Grand Rapids (Michigan) Press, 10 Jan. 2014
John Serba, The Grand Rapids (Michigan) Press, 10 Jan. 20142
: an inherent low frequency instability in electronic circuits characterized when heard on a telephone receiver or loudspeaker by a noise similar to the exhaust of a motorboat
Examples of motorboat in a Sentence
Noun (1)
motorboats are banned on the lake because they are a hazard to swimmers
Recent Examples on the Web
Winston Ross, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
The boat, a 39-foot Sea Ray Cabin motorboat, was anchored at the Haulover sandbar with 13 passengers on board, according to a new report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
—Peter D'oench, CBS News, 15 May 2026
Arriving by late afternoon gave plenty of time for a few of us to take a motorboat shortcut to tiny but tony Portofino, where Dodge and rally regulars Ian Campbell and Robert Rooks were part of our small party soaking up the ambiance while sipping Aperol Spritz.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 11 May 2026
Instead, Chinese Indonesian studio operators worked with Javanese painters to produce popular backdrops of local Indonesian landscapes—featuring scenery such as palm trees and volcanoes—with modern instruments like radios and motorboats serving as props.
—H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for motorboat
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Noun
The hotel also acquired a Riva motorboat, one of 18 of its kind in the world, that ferries guests on lake cruises before returning to the Carbone Riviera dock.
—Winston Ross, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026
The boat, a 39-foot Sea Ray Cabin motorboat, was anchored at the Haulover sandbar with 13 passengers on board, according to a new report from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
—Peter D'oench, CBS News, 15 May 2026
Arriving by late afternoon gave plenty of time for a few of us to take a motorboat shortcut to tiny but tony Portofino, where Dodge and rally regulars Ian Campbell and Robert Rooks were part of our small party soaking up the ambiance while sipping Aperol Spritz.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 11 May 2026
Instead, Chinese Indonesian studio operators worked with Javanese painters to produce popular backdrops of local Indonesian landscapes—featuring scenery such as palm trees and volcanoes—with modern instruments like radios and motorboats serving as props.
—H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for motorboat
Cite this Entry
“Motorboat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/motorboat. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
motorboat
noun
mo·tor·boat
-ˌbōt
: a boat driven by a motor
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
