plural boats
1
a
: a small vessel for travel on water
b
: ship
2
: a boat-shaped container, utensil, or device
a gravy boat
a laboratory boat
3
informal
: a large car
A lot of people still think Cadillac makes big floaty boats.—
Mark LaNeve
Mark LaNeve
boated; boating; boats
: to place in or bring into a boat
: to go by boat
Examples of boat in a Sentence
Noun
He tied the boat to the dock.
Cruise ships and other boats filled the harbor.
traveling by boat across the ocean
Verb
We boated over to the island.
boated to the picnic site on an island in the bay
Recent Examples on the Web
Avery Schmitz, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
There are four or five gunners, a big spread, maybe a boat, a dog, and a nice blind.
—The Editors, Outdoor Life, 30 Oct. 2025
Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
Kentucky Lake reported the most the most boating injuries in Tennessee last year with six, according to the 2024 Tennessee Boating Incident Statistical Report.
—Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for boat
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Noun
In the town of White House, less than 10 miles northwest of Black River, small boats were washed ashore in a town where the economy is reliant on its closeness to the Caribbean Sea.
—Avery Schmitz, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
There are four or five gunners, a big spread, maybe a boat, a dog, and a nice blind.
—The Editors, Outdoor Life, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
Her son Paul had been awaiting trial at the time of his murder after pleading not guilty to three felony counts of boating under the influence following the death of 19-year-old Mallory Beach.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
Kentucky Lake reported the most the most boating injuries in Tennessee last year with six, according to the 2024 Tennessee Boating Incident Statistical Report.
—Kirsten Fiscus, Nashville Tennessean, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for boat
Cite this Entry
“Boat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/boat. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
boat
1 of 2 noun1
: a small vessel for travel on water
3
: a boat-shaped utensil
gravy boat
boat
2 of 2 verb1
: to put into or carry in a boat
2
: to travel by boat
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