Illustration of toboggan
- toboggan 1
to·bog·gan
tə-ˈbä-gən 
1
: a long flat-bottomed light sled made usually of thin boards curved up at one end with usually low handrails at the sides
2
: a downward course or a sharp decline
3
chiefly Southern US and Midland US
: stocking cap
tobogganed; tobogganing; toboggans
tobogganer
noun
Examples of toboggan in a Sentence
Verb
The kids tobogganed down the hill.
Recent Examples on the Web
Laura Manske, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2023
Patrollers must be able to ski an 80-pound toboggan loaded with a large adult to safety.
—Karin Brulliard, Anchorage Daily News, 17 Mar. 2023
Active, confident hikers should venture to Jinshanling, while families may want to stick with the more accessible Mutianyu section (there’s an unforgettable, five-minute toboggan ride from the top of the eastern end to the bottom).
—Melanie Lieberman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Mar. 2023
Elsewhere, ice fishing derbies are canceling angling and toboggan chutes are screeching to a halt.
—Jesse McKinley, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2023
Though they aren’t meant to cater to downhill skiers or avid sledders, many function as trailheads for backcountry skiers venturing into the mountains overnight or provide quick access to slopes for toboggan rides.
—Gregory Thomas, San Francisco Chronicle, 7 Jan. 2022
My most memorable adventure of 2022: Sledding down what’s claimed to be the longest toboggan run in the world.
—Rachel Schnalzeraudience Engagement Editor, Los Angeles Times, 29 Dec. 2022
Bring a toboggan, some friends, and your sense of adventure and race in the 32nd annual US National Toboggan Championships in Camden, Maine, Feb. 3-5.
—Kari Bodnarchuk, BostonGlobe.com, 26 Jan. 2023
Karin Brulliard, Anchorage Daily News, 17 Mar. 2023
Brandon Smith bought Legion FC toboggans for himself and his 10-year-old daughter from the merchandise tent.
—Cheryl Wray, al, 9 Feb. 2020
The backdrop of snowy evergreens makes the meadow a beautiful place to sled or toboggan.
—John Pana, cleveland, 9 Jan. 2020
Cost: See the Cleveland Metroparks’ tobogganing webpage for current information.
—John Pana, cleveland, 9 Jan. 2020
When not on assignment, Robbie can be found chasing adventures at home in the heart of the Alps, or photographing rock climbers on via ferrata, tobogganing competitions, and cultural events.
—National Geographic, 15 Sep. 2019
Edmond Lam takes his children tobogganing in Edmonton.
—Paolo Bosonin, WSJ, 26 Dec. 2018
To The Pathe Archives: Here’s the 1965 world tobogganing championship from Davos.
—Charles P. Pierce, Esquire, 26 Jan. 2018
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Noun
Lap up Lapland’s lively diversions, such as wilderness sled and sledge rides pulled by snowmobiles, reindeers or husky dogs; toboggan slides; snow-shoeing hikes; wool-sock nature walks; kick and fat bike outings; and ice water floats (while wearing buoyant brrr-thwarting wetsuits).
—Laura Manske, Forbes, 7 Mar. 2023
Patrollers must be able to ski an 80-pound toboggan loaded with a large adult to safety.
—Karin Brulliard, Anchorage Daily News, 17 Mar. 2023
Active, confident hikers should venture to Jinshanling, while families may want to stick with the more accessible Mutianyu section (there’s an unforgettable, five-minute toboggan ride from the top of the eastern end to the bottom).
—Melanie Lieberman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Mar. 2023
Elsewhere, ice fishing derbies are canceling angling and toboggan chutes are screeching to a halt.
—Jesse McKinley, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2023
Though they aren’t meant to cater to downhill skiers or avid sledders, many function as trailheads for backcountry skiers venturing into the mountains overnight or provide quick access to slopes for toboggan rides.
—Gregory Thomas, San Francisco Chronicle, 7 Jan. 2022
My most memorable adventure of 2022: Sledding down what’s claimed to be the longest toboggan run in the world.
—Rachel Schnalzeraudience Engagement Editor, Los Angeles Times, 29 Dec. 2022
Bring a toboggan, some friends, and your sense of adventure and race in the 32nd annual US National Toboggan Championships in Camden, Maine, Feb. 3-5.
—Kari Bodnarchuk, BostonGlobe.com, 26 Jan. 2023
Verb
By the end of their nine-hour workday, the red-jacketed patrollers had tobogganed out multiple knee injuries and a broken ankle, responded to a few crashes with trees and patched one bloody chin.
—Karin Brulliard, Anchorage Daily News, 17 Mar. 2023
Brandon Smith bought Legion FC toboggans for himself and his 10-year-old daughter from the merchandise tent.
—Cheryl Wray, al, 9 Feb. 2020
The backdrop of snowy evergreens makes the meadow a beautiful place to sled or toboggan.
—John Pana, cleveland, 9 Jan. 2020
Cost: See the Cleveland Metroparks’ tobogganing webpage for current information.
—John Pana, cleveland, 9 Jan. 2020
When not on assignment, Robbie can be found chasing adventures at home in the heart of the Alps, or photographing rock climbers on via ferrata, tobogganing competitions, and cultural events.
—National Geographic, 15 Sep. 2019
Edmond Lam takes his children tobogganing in Edmonton.
—Paolo Bosonin, WSJ, 26 Dec. 2018
To The Pathe Archives: Here’s the 1965 world tobogganing championship from Davos.
—Charles P. Pierce, Esquire, 26 Jan. 2018
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'toboggan.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
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Cite this Entry
“Toboggan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/toboggan. Accessed 7 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
toboggan
1 of 2 noun
to·bog·gan
tə-ˈbäg-ən
: a long light sled made without runners and curved up at the front
toboggan
2 of 2 verb
: to slide on a toboggan
More from Merriam-Webster on toboggan
Nglish: Translation of toboggan for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of toboggan for Arabic Speakers
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