Boat — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈbōt/

Meaning & Definition of Boat

Boat (noun)

  1. a small vessel for travel on water
  2. ship
  3. a boat-shaped container, utensil, or device

Boat (verb)

  1. to place in or bring into a boat
  2. to go by boat

Boat (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a small buoyant structure for travel on water

    "paddling the little boat across the lake is great exercise, but tiring"

    similar: bottom, craft, vessel, watercraft
    related: catboat, ketch, sailboat, schooner, yacht, bateau, caïque, canoe, catamaran, coracle, curragh, dhow, dinghy, dink, dory, dugout, flatboat, garvey, gig, johnboat, kayak, outrigger, paddleboat, pinnace, piragua, pirogue, pontoon, pram, punt, raft, rowboat, rowing boat (chiefly British), sampan, scow, scull, shallop, shell, skiff, surfboat, umiak, wherry, cruiser, inboard, motorboat, outboard, powerboat, houseboat, riverboat, auxiliary, bumboat, cutter, jolly boat, launch, lifeboat, longboat, tender, yawl, barge, hoy, keel, keelboat, lighter, narrow boat (British), towboat, tug, tugboat, ferry, ferryboat, gondola, taxi, water taxi, banker, coble, dragger, gillnetter, hooker, lugger, scalloper, seiner, shrimper, trawler, whaleboat, whaler, workboat, cockleshell, tub, airboat, air-cushion vehicle, hovercraft, hydrofoil, hydroplane, assault boat, PT boat, torpedo boat

  2. a large craft for travel by water

    "you'll have to take a passenger boat to get to the island"

    similar: keel, ship, vessel
    related: aircraft carrier, argosy, barge, coaster, collier, containership, corvette, cruiser, cutter, destroyer, ferryboat, flagship, freighter, icebreaker, ironclad, lightship, liner, man-of-war, merchantman, merchant ship, motor ship, packet, steamer, steamship, superliner, supertanker, tanker, trader, tramp, transport, warship, watercraft, bark, brig, brigantine, caravel, clipper, junk, ketch, sailboat, schooner, square-rigger, tall ship, windjammer, xebec, yacht

Boat (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to travel on water in a vessel

    "boated to the picnic site on an island in the bay"

    similar: cruise, ferry, navigate, sail, ship (out), voyage, make sail, take ship
    related: canoe, kayak, yacht, coast

Related Entry: PT boat (noun)

PT boat is a different word from Boat. The synonyms below are for PT boat, not for boat.

  1. as in torpedo boat, assault boat

    similar: assault boat, torpedo boat, hydrofoil, hydroplane, airboat, air-cushion vehicle, hovercraft, cockleshell, tub, banker, coble, dragger, gillnetter, hooker, lugger, scalloper, seiner, shrimper, trawler, whaleboat, whaler, workboat, ferry, ferryboat, gondola, taxi, water taxi, towboat, tug, tugboat, barge, hoy, keel, keelboat, lighter, narrow boat (British), auxiliary, bumboat, cutter, jolly boat, launch, lifeboat, longboat, tender, yawl

Related Entry: Assault boat (noun)

Assault boat is a different word from Boat. The synonyms below are for assault boat, not for boat.

  1. as in torpedo boat, PT boat

    similar: PT boat, torpedo boat, hydrofoil, hydroplane, airboat, air-cushion vehicle, hovercraft, cockleshell, tub, banker, coble, dragger, gillnetter, hooker, lugger, scalloper, seiner, shrimper, trawler, whaleboat, whaler, workboat, ferry, ferryboat, gondola, taxi, water taxi, towboat, tug, tugboat, barge, hoy, keel, keelboat, lighter, narrow boat (British), auxiliary, bumboat, cutter, jolly boat, launch, lifeboat, longboat, tender, yawl

Related Entry: Jolly boat (noun)

Jolly boat is a different word from Boat. The synonyms below are for jolly boat, not for boat.

  1. as in bumboat, yawl

    similar: auxiliary, bumboat, cutter, launch, lifeboat, longboat, tender, yawl, houseboat, riverboat, barge, hoy, keel, keelboat, lighter, narrow boat (British), cruiser, inboard, motorboat, outboard, powerboat, towboat, tug, tugboat, bateau, caïque, canoe, catamaran, coracle, curragh, dhow, dinghy, dink, dory, dugout, flatboat, garvey, gig, johnboat, kayak, outrigger, paddleboat, pinnace, piragua, pirogue, pontoon, pram, punt, raft, rowboat, rowing boat (chiefly British), sampan, scow, scull, shallop, shell, skiff, surfboat, umiak, wherry, ferry, ferryboat, gondola, taxi, water taxi, catboat, ketch, sailboat, schooner, yacht, banker, coble, dragger, gillnetter, hooker, lugger, scalloper, seiner, shrimper, trawler, whaleboat, whaler, workboat, boat, bottom, craft, vessel, watercraft

Related Entry: Narrow boat (noun)

Narrow boat is a different word from Boat. The synonyms below are for narrow boat, not for boat.

  1. as in barge, keel

    similar: barge, hoy, keel, keelboat, lighter, auxiliary, bumboat, cutter, jolly boat, launch, lifeboat, longboat, tender, yawl, towboat, tug, tugboat, houseboat, riverboat, ferry, ferryboat, gondola, taxi, water taxi, cruiser, inboard, motorboat, outboard, powerboat, banker, coble, dragger, gillnetter, hooker, lugger, scalloper, seiner, shrimper, trawler, whaleboat, whaler, workboat, bateau, caïque, canoe, catamaran, coracle, curragh, dhow, dinghy, dink, dory, dugout, flatboat, garvey, gig, johnboat, kayak, outrigger, paddleboat, pinnace, piragua, pirogue, pontoon, pram, punt, raft, rowboat, rowing boat (chiefly British), sampan, scow, scull, shallop, shell, skiff, surfboat, umiak, wherry, cockleshell, tub, catboat, ketch, sailboat, schooner, yacht

Related Entry: Rowing boat (noun)

Rowing boat is a different word from Boat. The synonyms below are for rowing boat, not for boat.

  1. as in canoe, kayak

    similar: bateau, caïque, canoe, catamaran, coracle, curragh, dhow, dinghy, dink, dory, dugout, flatboat, garvey, gig, johnboat, kayak, outrigger, paddleboat, pinnace, piragua, pirogue, pontoon, pram, punt, raft, rowboat, sampan, scow, scull, shallop, shell, skiff, surfboat, umiak, wherry, bottom, craft, vessel, watercraft, catboat, ketch, sailboat, schooner, yacht, cruiser, inboard, motorboat, outboard, powerboat, houseboat, riverboat, auxiliary, bumboat, cutter, jolly boat, launch, lifeboat, longboat, tender, yawl, barge, hoy, keel, keelboat, lighter, narrow boat (British), towboat, tug, tugboat, ferry, ferryboat, gondola, taxi, water taxi

Related Entry: Torpedo boat (noun)

Torpedo boat is a different word from Boat. The synonyms below are for torpedo boat, not for boat.

  1. as in PT boat, assault boat

    similar: assault boat, PT boat, hydrofoil, hydroplane, airboat, air-cushion vehicle, hovercraft, cockleshell, tub, banker, coble, dragger, gillnetter, hooker, lugger, scalloper, seiner, shrimper, trawler, whaleboat, whaler, workboat, ferry, ferryboat, gondola, taxi, water taxi, towboat, tug, tugboat, barge, hoy, keel, keelboat, lighter, narrow boat (British), auxiliary, bumboat, cutter, jolly boat, launch, lifeboat, longboat, tender, yawl

Related Entry: Miss (verb)

Miss is a different word from Boat. The synonyms below are for miss, not for boat.

  1. to fail to attend

    "had to miss work for a week because of the flu"

    similar: blow off, cut, skip, absent oneself, play hooky
    related: ignore, neglect, pass over
    opposite: attend, show up (for)

  2. to fail to understand the true or actual meaning of

    "I think you're missing the point"

    similar: misapprehend, misconstrue, misinterpret, misknow, misperceive, misread, mistake, misunderstand
    related: misconceive, misdeem, misjudge, mishear
    opposite: appreciate, apprehend, catch, comprehend, conceive, fathom, get, grasp, grok, know, make out, penetrate, perceive, savvy, see, seize, take in, understand

  3. to be unsuccessful

    "everyone knows that most of the new television series will miss and be gone before anyone notices"

    similar: bomb, collapse, crater, fail, flame out, flop, flunk, fold, founder, strike out, tank, wash out, come a cropper, come to grief, come up empty, die on the vine, fall flat, fall on one's face, fall short, lay an egg
    related: flounder, struggle, decline, sink, skid, slip, slump, wane, crash, crumble, miscarry, misfire, go under, implode, self-destruct
    opposite: click, come off, deliver, go, go over, pan out, succeed, work out
    near: cook, flourish, prosper, thrive, prevail, triumph, win

Related Entry: Rock (verb)

Rock is a different word from Boat. The synonyms below are for rock, not for boat.

  1. to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions

    "the boat was rocking so much that several passengers felt seasick"

    similar: careen, lurch, pitch, roll, seesaw, sway, toss, wobble
    related: blunder, buck, dodder, falter, flounder, halt, hitch, hobble, jerk, jolt, reel, shake, stagger, stumble, teeter, toddle, totter, tumble, vacillate, vibrate, waddle, waver, weave, oscillate, undulate, wag, waggle

  2. to swing unsteadily back and forth or from side to side

    "the drunk rocked on his heels for a moment and then fell flat on his back"

    similar: falter, teeter, totter, waver, wobble
    related: flounder, lurch, stumble, toddle, quake, quaver, quiver, shake, shudder, tremble, vibrate, careen, reel, stagger, weave

  3. to make senseless or dizzy by a blow

    "she rocked the mugger with a single punch and then ran"

    similar: daze, stun, knock for a loop, knock silly
    related: deaden, knock out, paralyze, benumb, numb, stupefy, bowl over, knock down, bang, bash, belt, bludgeon, bonk, bop, clobber, clock, clout, hammer, hit, paste, pound, punch, rap, slam, slap, slug, smack, smite, sock, strike, swat, thump, thwack, wallop, whack, whale, batter, beat, buffet, bung, chop, cuff, drub, mangle, maul, pelt, pummel

  4. to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected

    "the news of the mayor's sudden death rocked the city"

    similar: amaze, astonish, astound, bowl over, dumbfound, flabbergast, floor, shock, startle, stun, stupefy, surprise, thunderstrike, knock for a loop, take aback, take by surprise
    related: befuddle, bewilder, blindside, blow away, confound, confuse, daze, discomfit, disconcert, dismay, jar, muddle, nonplus, perplex, shake up

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Boat

The most common words with a similar meaning to Boat:

bottom, craft, vessel, watercraft, keel, ship, cruise, ferry, navigate, sail, ship (out), voyage, make sail, take ship

Related Words for Boat

catboat, ketch, sailboat, schooner, yacht, bateau, caïque, canoe, catamaran, coracle, curragh, dhow, dinghy, dink, dory, dugout, flatboat, garvey, gig, johnboat, kayak, outrigger, paddleboat, pinnace, piragua, pirogue, pontoon, pram, punt, raft

Word Forms of Boat

Inflections: boats, boated, boating

Derived words: boatful (noun), boatlike (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Boat

Middle English boot, from Old English bāt; akin to Old Norse beit boat

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Boat

Words & Phrases Containing Boat

boat hook, boat people, boat shoe, boat train, assault boat, flying boat, in the same boat, jolly boat

Frequently Asked Questions about Boat

What does "Boat" mean?

"Boat" means a small vessel for travel on water. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a small vessel for travel on water. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Boat"?

Other words for "Boat" include bottom, craft, vessel, watercraft, keel, ship, cruise and ferry. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Boat" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Boat"?

There are 144 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Boat". Common alternatives include bottom, craft, vessel, watercraft, keel, ship, cruise, ferry, navigate and sail.

How do you use "Boat" in a sentence?

Examples of "Boat" in a sentence: "paddling the little boat across the lake is great exercise, but tiring"; "you'll have to take a passenger boat to get to the island"; "boated to the picnic site on an island in the bay".

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

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

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

As an A1-level word, "Boat" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Boat"?

"Boat" is pronounced /ˈbōt/.

What is the origin of the word "Boat"?

"Boat" comes from Middle English boot, from Old English bāt; akin to Old Norse beit boat. First known use: before 12th century.