lifeboat

noun

life·​boat ˈlīf-ˌbōt How to pronounce lifeboat (audio)
Synonyms of lifeboatnext
: a sturdy buoyant boat (such as one carried by a ship) for use in an emergency and especially in saving lives at sea

Examples of lifeboat 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.
These feature deep-V hulls designed to cut through coastal chop and remain watertight and self-righting like a lifeboat. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 June 2026 Ultimately the loss of life was caused by the inadequate number of lifeboats due to cost constraints. — Bhakti Mirchandani, Forbes.com, 19 May 2026 Resilience doesn’t come from eliminating stress—or from throwing kids into stressful situations with no lifeboat. — Parents, 30 May 2026 The 14 surviving crew members evacuated on a lifeboat, and were later picked up by the Salvamar Draco, a Spanish rescue boat. — Pau Mosquera, CNN Money, 12 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for lifeboat

Word History

First Known Use

1797, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lifeboat was in 1797

Rhymes for lifeboat

See All Rhymes for lifeboat

Browse Nearby Words

lifeblood
lifeboat
lifeboat falls
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Cite this Entry

“Lifeboat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lifeboat. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

lifeboat

noun
life·​boat -ˌbōt How to pronounce lifeboat (audio)
: a sturdy boat (as one carried by a ship) for use in an emergency and especially for saving lives at sea
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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