boats 1 of 2

noun

plural of boat
1
as in vessels
a small buoyant structure for travel on water paddling the little boat across the lake is great exercise, but tiring

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in ships
a large craft for travel by water you'll have to take a passenger boat to get to the island

Synonyms & Similar Words

boats

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of boat
as in sails
to travel on water in a vessel boated to the picnic site on an island in the bay

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of boats
Noun
Fire and rescue crews deployed boats, dive teams, and additional resources during the search for the missing swimmer. — Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 14 July 2026 Though Ukraine has used drone boats to destroy Russian shipping, the American strike is the first time such a mission has been carried out by a major naval power. — David Szondy july 13, New Atlas, 14 July 2026 Local maritime authorities have frequently abandoned the Rohingya at sea, often ignoring reports of boats in distress. — ABC News, 14 July 2026 But boats, kayaks, paddleboards and other watercraft activities are allowed until mid-October. — Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 14 July 2026 This marks the second notable US military use of drone boats during the war, which began with the United States and Israel attacking Iran on February 28, 2026. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 14 July 2026 Pilots are launching into a bottleneck already packed with ferries, commercial vessels, and tour boats, while sharing tight overhead airspace with NYPD, news, and helicopters, often with limited visibility. — Janet Handal, New York Daily News, 13 July 2026 Electric boats are no longer limited to slow-moving leisure craft. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 13 July 2026 In the Gulf of Thailand, diesel prices have climbed so high that fishermen are warning their boats may soon sit idle. — Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Verb
Shrimp boats bob in the harbor, American flags flutter from pastel porches and old oak trees draped in Spanish moss offer cool shade. — Noreen Kompanik, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025 Kennebunkport, Maine Lobster boats bob in the waves and beachcombers search for shells. — Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boats
  1. vessels
  2. ships
  3. sails
  4. yachts
  5. ferries
  6. canoes
  7. crafts
  8. rafts
Noun
  • French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that the French Navy’s mine countermeasure and escort vessels will remain in the region.
    — Peter Suciu, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • There was no immediate explanation for the ships that turned back on Friday and Saturday, though Iran has repeatedly said that vessels should only transit the strait through the route designated and authorized by the Islamic Republic.
    — Weilun Soon, Fortune, 5 July 2026
Definition of vessels
Noun
  • Firing uncrewed, expendable vessels from submarines and ships can boost flexibility, reduce risks to personnel, and support missions and other maritime defense tasks.
    — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 15 July 2026
  • The pilots, who help captains guide cargo ships into the port, have conducted various labor actions since last fall.
    — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 15 July 2026
Definition of ships
Verb
  • Victory Cruise Lines, which sails on the Great Lakes, says 2026 bookings are up more than 20 percent for itineraries such as a 10-night trip that sails on all five Great Lakes.
    — Jane Wooldridge, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026
  • Star of the Seas still sails out of Port Canaveral, housing guests on what is tied for the title of world’s largest cruise ship.
    — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 June 2026
Definition of sails
Noun
  • The Herald had previously detailed how millions of the soccer body’s revenues were spent by TourProdEnter on charters of luxury jets and yachts, motorsport firms and a company that provides services for thoroughbred horses.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026
  • Renamed Sea Cloud in 1935, that original vessel is one of three sail- and motor-yachts now operated by the cruise line.
    — Jane Wooldridge, Travel + Leisure, 15 July 2026
Definition of yachts
Verb
  • The blockage of the strait, which normally ferries 20% of the world's oil, sent global energy prices soaring.
    — Kevin Breuninger,Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Iran has effectively halted trade traveling through the Strait of Hormuz, the maritime trade route that ferries roughly 20% of the world’s petroleum.
    — Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
Definition of ferries
Noun
  • Lounge on the private beach or play sand volleyball, and cruise the lake in complimentary kayaks, canoes, and stand-up paddleboards.
    — Tree Meinch, Midwest Living, 11 July 2026
  • The money will finance dozens of routine but essential items, such as a new roof, a 24-seat school bus and outrigger canoes that will be used by military veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress.
    — Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 10 July 2026
Definition of canoes
Noun
  • Families already had a lot to like about this Mexican Caribbean resort, including oceanfront guest rooms, multiple pools, and daily programming for children with activities like crafts, piñata making, and cookie decorating.
    — Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 14 July 2026
  • Tom Cruise is known to be a student of film, the rare movie star who likes to speak at length about camera lenses and the crafts behind filmmaking.
    — Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 13 July 2026
Definition of crafts
Noun
  • When Paul Revere came to Portsmouth with news that the British were headed toward the fort, Cheswill rode to Exeter to help spread the news and build rafts to defend Portsmouth Harbor.
    — Catherine Messier, The Providence Journal, 4 July 2026
  • Bring your innertubes and rafts or borrow some and enjoy a family-friendly movie under the stars.
    — Linda Mcintosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 July 2026
Definition of rafts

Browse Nearby Words

boatloads
boats
bob
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Cite this Entry

“Boats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boats. Accessed 19 Jul. 2026.

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