1
a
: a usually four-wheeled vehicle for transporting bulky commodities and drawn originally by animals
b
: a lighter typically horse-drawn vehicle for transporting goods or passengers
c
2
British
: a railway freight car
3
: a low four-wheeled vehicle with an open rectangular body and a retroflex tongue made for the play or use of a child
4
: a small wheeled table used for the service of a dining room
the dessert wagon
5
: a delivery truck
a milk wagon
6
wagoned; wagoning; wagons
: to travel or transport goods by wagon
: to transport (goods) by wagon
Synonyms
Examples of wagon in a Sentence
Noun
Pioneers crossed the American Midwest in wagons.
He pulled his stuffed animals around in a little red wagon.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jennifer Salerno, Travel + Leisure, 29 Nov. 2023
Martin showed me a photo that a neighbor had sent of toddlers in wagons being pulled past a pile of clothing, bedding and trash, with Roye and Buck in the middle of it.
—Jesse Barron, New York Times, 16 Nov. 2023
Highlights include a bulldog wagon parade, food truck vendors, local business vendors and a Memorial Strut Your Stuff walk along with music, contests and Bulldog Derby races, featuring English and French bulldogs.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Oct. 2023
The two friends are in a wagon, plummeting perilously forward into the unseen—a common pastime for them.
—Rivka Galchen, The New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2023
Find it on Amazon Go to the Farmer’s Market With This Stroller Wagon
This stroller wagon can fit two kids comfortably for a more fun walking experience.
—Taylor Gumm, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2023
After about a month on the wagon, her gastrointestinal problems cleared up.
—Drew Schwartz, SELF, 12 Sep. 2023
By making the character one who struggles with addiction, every trip off the wagon keeps Savage alive at the expense of slowly killing himself.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2023
The first verse portrays an individual cowgirl, though the chorus breaks into a recognition of covered wagons, embracing a historical sweep of the cowgirl as a societal role.
—Tom Roland, Billboard, 24 Oct. 2023
The Editors, Outside Online, 1 June 2019
Chris Bobek, who lives a couple of blocks south of Harrer, pulled daughter Sophie, 3, in a classic fire-red Radio Flyer wagon up to the complex’s main entrance.
—George Castle, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2022
Other towns have repeatedly fled rivers – Niobrara, Nebraska, hauled its houses by horse and wagon away from flooding in the Missouri River in 1881 and moved again in 1971.
—Doug Struck, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 July 2021
The farm's dozens of other attractions, from a train and giant jumping pillows to wagon rides to a pumpkin patch, give it almost amusement-park status.
—Chelsey Lewis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 12 Oct. 2017
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Noun
Each suite is color-themed and equipped with beach gear and a wagon for toting it.
—Jennifer Salerno, Travel + Leisure, 29 Nov. 2023
Martin showed me a photo that a neighbor had sent of toddlers in wagons being pulled past a pile of clothing, bedding and trash, with Roye and Buck in the middle of it.
—Jesse Barron, New York Times, 16 Nov. 2023
Highlights include a bulldog wagon parade, food truck vendors, local business vendors and a Memorial Strut Your Stuff walk along with music, contests and Bulldog Derby races, featuring English and French bulldogs.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Oct. 2023
The two friends are in a wagon, plummeting perilously forward into the unseen—a common pastime for them.
—Rivka Galchen, The New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2023
Find it on Amazon Go to the Farmer’s Market With This Stroller Wagon
This stroller wagon can fit two kids comfortably for a more fun walking experience.
—Taylor Gumm, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2023
After about a month on the wagon, her gastrointestinal problems cleared up.
—Drew Schwartz, SELF, 12 Sep. 2023
By making the character one who struggles with addiction, every trip off the wagon keeps Savage alive at the expense of slowly killing himself.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2023
The first verse portrays an individual cowgirl, though the chorus breaks into a recognition of covered wagons, embracing a historical sweep of the cowgirl as a societal role.
—Tom Roland, Billboard, 24 Oct. 2023
Verb
And Buck weaves in the fascinating history of the original Oregon Trail, revealing surprising details about everything from mules to wagon design to the tragedies the original pioneers faced.
—The Editors, Outside Online, 1 June 2019
Chris Bobek, who lives a couple of blocks south of Harrer, pulled daughter Sophie, 3, in a classic fire-red Radio Flyer wagon up to the complex’s main entrance.
—George Castle, Chicago Tribune, 6 June 2022
Other towns have repeatedly fled rivers – Niobrara, Nebraska, hauled its houses by horse and wagon away from flooding in the Missouri River in 1881 and moved again in 1971.
—Doug Struck, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 July 2021
The farm's dozens of other attractions, from a train and giant jumping pillows to wagon rides to a pumpkin patch, give it almost amusement-park status.
—Chelsey Lewis, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 12 Oct. 2017
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wagon.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1606, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Time Traveler
The first known use of wagon was
in the 15th century
Phrases Containing wagon
Dictionary Entries Near wagon
Cite this Entry
“Wagon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wagon. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
wagon
noun
wag·on
ˈwag-ən
1
a
: a usually four-wheeled vehicle for transporting goods or passengers
especially
: one drawn by animals
b
2
: a low four-wheeled vehicle with an open rectangular body for the play or use of a child
3
wagoner
noun
ˈwag-ə-nər
More from Merriam-Webster on wagon
Nglish: Translation of wagon for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of wagon for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about wagon
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