Boast — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈbōst/

Meaning & Definition of Boast

Boast (noun)

  1. a statement expressing excessive pride in oneself, the act or an instance of boasting, brag
  2. a cause for pride

Boast (verb)

  1. to praise oneself extravagantly in speech, speak of oneself with excessive pride
  2. glory, exult
  3. to speak of or assert with excessive pride
  4. to shape (stone) roughly in sculpture and stonecutting as a preliminary to finer work

Boast (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to praise or express pride in one's own possessions, qualities, or accomplishments often to excess

    "he boasted about his latest killing in real estate so I thought he should be the one to pay for dinner"

    similar: blow, brag, bull (slang), crow, gasconade, swagger, vapor, vaunt, blow smoke
    related: bluster, harangue, puff, pride, gush, exult, glory, rejoice, brandish, display, exhibit, expose, flaunt, glorify, parade, show off, magnify, maximize
    near: belittle, deprecate, diminish, discount, laugh off, minimize, play down, pooh-pooh, shrug off, underrate, undervalue, bemoan, lament, mourn, regret

  2. to have within

    "the hotel boasts nearly 50 rooms"

    similar: bear, contain, hold
    related: accommodate, fit, take, case, encase, enclose, encompass, harbor, house, lodge, shelter

Boast (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an asset that brings praise or renown

    "the school's boast was a winning football team"

    similar: credit, crown jewel, glory, honor, jewel, pride, treasure, trophy, a feather in one's cap
    related: pièce de résistance, showpiece, attraction, feature, highlight, distinction, excellence, merit, value, virtue
    near: disgrace, dishonor, blemish, blot, defect, shame, slur, smirch, smudge, stain, stigma, eyesore, fright, horror, mess

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Boast

The most common words with a similar meaning to Boast:

Slang: bull
blow, brag, crow, gasconade, swagger, vapor, vaunt, bear, contain, hold, blow smoke, credit, crown jewel, glory, honor, jewel, pride, treasure, trophy, a feather in one's cap

Related Words for Boast

bluster, harangue, puff, gush, exult, rejoice, brandish, display, exhibit, expose, flaunt, glorify, parade, show off, magnify, maximize, accommodate, fit, take, case, encase, enclose, encompass, harbor, house, lodge, shelter, pièce de résistance, showpiece, attraction

Near Antonyms of Boast

belittle, deprecate, diminish, discount, laugh off, minimize, play down, pooh-pooh, shrug off, underrate, undervalue, bemoan, lament, mourn, regret, disgrace, dishonor, blemish, blot, defect, shame, slur, smirch, smudge, stain, stigma, eyesore, fright, horror, mess

Word Forms of Boast

Inflections: boasted, boasting, boasts

Derived words: boaster (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Boast

Middle English boost

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Boast

Frequently Asked Questions about Boast

What does "Boast" mean?

"Boast" means a statement expressing excessive pride in oneself, the act or an instance of boasting, brag. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a statement expressing excessive pride in oneself, the act or an instance of boasting, brag. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Boast"?

Other words for "Boast" include blow, brag, bull, crow, gasconade, swagger, vapor and vaunt. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Boast" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Boast"?

There are 58 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Boast". Common alternatives include blow, brag, bull, crow, gasconade, swagger, vapor, vaunt, bear and contain.

How do you use "Boast" in a sentence?

Examples of "Boast" in a sentence: "he boasted about his latest killing in real estate so I thought he should be the one to pay for dinner"; "the hotel boasts nearly 50 rooms"; "the school's boast was a winning football team".

Is "Boast" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Boast" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Boast" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Boast" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Boast"?

"Boast" is pronounced /ˈbōst/.

What is the origin of the word "Boast"?

"Boast" comes from Middle English boost. First known use: 14th century.