the boards
plural noun
US
: the low wooden wall that surrounds the playing surface in ice hockey
He crashed into the boards.
Examples of the boards in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But even those weren’t as shocking as what happened with 53 seconds left in regulation, when a DeBrincat dump-in along the boards took a strange bounce, apparently at the spot where the board’s photo hole was, and then went off Capitals goalie Charlie Lindgren and in to tie the score at 3-3.
—
Max Bultman, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Kane passed the puck from the boards to Alex DeBrincat in the left circle, and DeBrincat set up Ben Chiarot for a tying goal from the point midway through the second period.
—Larry Lage, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Kane passed the puck from the boards to Alex DeBrincat in the left circle, and DeBrincat set up Ben Chiarot for a tying goal from the point midway through the first period.
—CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
One of the older photographs in Gaskin’s book, from 1998, finds an impeccably suited ballroom performer strutting the boards of what appears to be a community-center gymnasium.
—Andrew Holter, The Atlantic, 31 Dec. 2025
The 2022 Beijing Olympics silver medalist lost her balance on the second bend of the 1000-meter trial, falling to the ice and crashing into the boards.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025
Warley had 14 rebounds and Graham Ike had nine, with Huff pulling in eight as Gonzaga dominated the boards 44-26.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Dec. 2025
Sanders also penned an open letter to the boards of trustees at the two schools, urging them to hold an annual football game at War Memorial Stadium, but so far no action has been taken.
—Erick Taylor, Arkansas Online, 31 Dec. 2025
Eetu Luostarinen and Reinhart set up the play by working the boards, forcing a turnover.
—Miami Herald, 30 Dec. 2025
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.
Max Bultman, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Kane passed the puck from the boards to Alex DeBrincat in the left circle, and DeBrincat set up Ben Chiarot for a tying goal from the point midway through the second period.
—Larry Lage, Chicago Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
Kane passed the puck from the boards to Alex DeBrincat in the left circle, and DeBrincat set up Ben Chiarot for a tying goal from the point midway through the first period.
—CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
One of the older photographs in Gaskin’s book, from 1998, finds an impeccably suited ballroom performer strutting the boards of what appears to be a community-center gymnasium.
—Andrew Holter, The Atlantic, 31 Dec. 2025
The 2022 Beijing Olympics silver medalist lost her balance on the second bend of the 1000-meter trial, falling to the ice and crashing into the boards.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 31 Dec. 2025
Warley had 14 rebounds and Graham Ike had nine, with Huff pulling in eight as Gonzaga dominated the boards 44-26.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Dec. 2025
Sanders also penned an open letter to the boards of trustees at the two schools, urging them to hold an annual football game at War Memorial Stadium, but so far no action has been taken.
—Erick Taylor, Arkansas Online, 31 Dec. 2025
Eetu Luostarinen and Reinhart set up the play by working the boards, forcing a turnover.
—Miami Herald, 30 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“The boards.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20boards. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
