ghat

noun

ˈgȯt How to pronounce ghat (audio) ˈgät How to pronounce ghat (audio)
: a broad flight of steps that is situated on an Indian riverbank and that provides access to the water especially for bathing

Examples of ghat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Millions of pilgrims flock to its temples and ghats -- or riverbank -- every year. — Helen Regan and Omar Khan, CNN, 20 May 2019 Take a boat ride and watch the locals take a dip in the river, pray, and meditate by the ghats as the sun rises. — Condé Nast Traveller, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Mar. 2025 Smoke lifting slowly above the cremation ghats. — Vogue, 1 June 2026 The riverside cities have wide flights of steps, called ghats, leading into the water, often with netting or guardrails. — New York Times, 23 Dec. 2019 See All Example Sentences for ghat

Word History

Etymology

Hindi & Urdu ghāṭ, from Sanskrit ghaṭṭa

First Known Use

1783, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ghat was in 1783

Phrases Containing ghat

Browse Nearby Words

ghastly
ghat
ghawazee
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Cite this Entry

“Ghat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ghat. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on ghat

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ghat

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