starboard

1 of 3

noun

star·​board ˈstär-bərd How to pronounce starboard (audio)
: the right side of a ship or aircraft looking forward compare port

starboard

2 of 3

adjective

: of, relating to, or situated to starboard

starboard

3 of 3

verb

starboarded; starboarding; starboards

transitive verb

: to turn or put (a helm or rudder) to the right

Examples of starboard in a Sentence

Noun The ship turned to starboard.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The captain of the ship nimbly repositioned us, giving both the port and starboard sides prime viewing, at a safe and respectful distance from the animals. Susan B. Barnes, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Feb. 2024 The camera is on the starboard aft-side of the lander in this phase. William Harwood, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2024 Further forward on the starboard side sits the owner’s suite. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 23 Feb. 2024 The torpedo struck the ship on the starboard side about three feet below the waterline. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Feb. 2024 Door plug scrutinized In an interview with NBC News earlier Monday, Homendy said NTSB investigators looked at the door plug on the right or starboard side of the aircraft Monday, seeking to answer major questions. Jay Blackman, NBC News, 9 Jan. 2024 The glass domes, which can comfortably fit up to two people, are located on opposite sides of the aft deck (port and starboard) about 50 feet apart. Stefanie Waldek, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Jan. 2024 According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the term starboard originates from the Old English words stéor (steer) and bord (the side of a boat). Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 17 Sep. 2023 As for guest accommodation, one VIP cabin is positioned on the starboard side of the main deck, while two twins and two doubles are located on the lower deck. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 22 Dec. 2023
Adjective
The collision ripped a hole in Barge 129’s starboard side. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Oct. 2022 The left main gear was good but the right main (the large forward gear leg on the starboard side of the Fury) would not fully lower and lock. Eric Tegler, Forbes, 28 Dec. 2022 In the photo below, the port dive plane appears to be drooping, while the starboard dive plane is bent down at a steep angle: This content is imported from Twitter. Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, 9 Feb. 2021 Against the backdrop of spectacular views of Earth, the team assembled a mounting bracket on the starboard side of the space station’s truss. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 3 Dec. 2022 The astronauts will assemble a mounting bracket on the starboard side of the space station’s truss. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 15 Nov. 2022 Owners can choose between galley-up, with the kitchen along the starboard side of the cockpit. Howard Walker, Robb Report, 9 Nov. 2022 These also allow huge, thin-framed, floor-to-ceiling windows and a three-panel folding glass door on the starboard side. Howard Walker, Robb Report, 28 Oct. 2022 Maunaloa's port side anchor striking the Barge 129's starboard side. Miriam Marini, Detroit Free Press, 13 Oct. 2022
Verb
Modular furniture at the rear constitutes a sun lounge, while there’s also a second wet bar to starboard. Kevin Koenig, Robb Report, 13 Dec. 2023 The large suite’s king-sized island berth is framed to port by a settee and to starboard by a vanity. Kevin Koenig, Robb Report, 13 Dec. 2023 Planer boards helped separate the lines across a 50-foot swath from port to starboard. Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 7 May 2023 Look to starboard for a pod of minkes. Rachel Walker, Washington Post, 13 May 2022 Forward is a small corridor with a separate head to port, and stand-alone shower to starboard, with a compact forward cabin in the bow. Howard Walker, Robb Report, 7 Nov. 2022 The master suite has an offset king-size bed to starboard, a vanity area and seating, a gigantic walk-in closet, a marble bathroom with his and her sinks, a tub, and a shower. Bill Springer, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2021 The alfresco design included a full bar and barbecue to starboard, as well as a Jacuzzi and multiple sun pads forward. Kevin Koenig, Robb Report, 16 Sep. 2022 Forward, the salon has a lounge and three-piece table on the portside and an entertainment center with a 55-inch, pop-up television to starboard. Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 29 Apr. 2022

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

Noun

Middle English sterbord, from Old English stēorbord, from stēor- steering oar + bord ship's side — more at steer, board entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1605, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of starboard was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near starboard

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

starboard

1 of 2 noun
star·​board ˈstär-bərd How to pronounce starboard (audio)
: the right side of a ship or aircraft looking forward

starboard

2 of 2 adjective
: of, relating to, or situated to starboard
Etymology

Noun

Old English stēorbord "starboard, side of a ship from which it is steered," from stēor "steering oar" and bord "the side of a ship"

Word Origin
The word starboard has nothing whatever to do with stars. The star- part of the word used to be spelled stēor- in Old English and referred to the steering oar or rudder of a ship. In those days the rudder was located on the side of the ship to the right of a person facing toward the bow. Nowadays, of course, the rudder is at the stern. The -board part of the word refers not to a plank but to a whole side of a ship. This meaning survives today in the verb to board a ship or airplane. The side opposite the starboard is usually called the port. The name probably comes from the fact that this side faced the port or dock when the ship was steered into a harbor. The port side is sometimes also called the larboard. The lar- part of this word was spelled lade- in Old English. It probably came from the verb laden, meaning "to load." So the larboard was the side from which the cargo was loaded and unloaded.

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