boats 1 of 2

noun

plural of boat
1
as in vessels
a small buoyant structure for travel on water paddling the little boat across the lake is great exercise, but tiring

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in ships
a large craft for travel by water you'll have to take a passenger boat to get to the island

Synonyms & Similar Words

boats

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of boat
as in sails
to travel on water in a vessel boated to the picnic site on an island in the bay

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of boats
Noun
Travel at a safe speed and keep a lookout for other boats, swimmers, and hazards. — Matthew Ablon, CBS News, 29 June 2026 The fire also destroyed two trucks and two boats, according to the fundraiser. — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 30 June 2026 Conventional pilot boats require massive, roaring diesel engines to smash through heavy coastal chop. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 June 2026 On June 6th, a fishing vessel in Manta burst into flames; hours later, more than thirty other boats had caught fire. — Will Freeman, New Yorker, 30 June 2026 The competing corridors have left shippers confused, forcing vessels to navigate threats from sea mines, aerial drones and IRGC patrol boats. — Xiaoqian Lin, CNN Money, 29 June 2026 First responders, law enforcement and volunteers used boats, divers, sonar, helicopters, drones, UTVs/ATVs, and K9 and cadaver dogs to aid in the search. — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 29 June 2026 The duck boats have been used several times in recent years to parade the region's numerous championship teams through Boston, including the New England Patriots six times, the Boston Red Sox four times, the Boston Celtics twice, and the Boston Bruins in 2011. — Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 27 June 2026
Verb
Kennebunkport, Maine Lobster boats bob in the waves and beachcombers search for shells. — Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025 Shrimp boats bob in the harbor, American flags flutter from pastel porches and old oak trees draped in Spanish moss offer cool shade. — Noreen Kompanik, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boats
  1. vessels
  2. ships
  3. sails
  4. yachts
  5. ferries
  6. canoes
  7. crafts
  8. rafts
Noun
  • French President Emmanuel Macron confirmed that the French Navy’s mine countermeasure and escort vessels will remain in the region.
    — Peter Suciu, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • There was no immediate explanation for the ships that turned back on Friday and Saturday, though Iran has repeatedly said that vessels should only transit the strait through the route designated and authorized by the Islamic Republic.
    — Weilun Soon, Fortune, 5 July 2026
Definition of vessels
Noun
  • The search spanned roughly 2,400 square miles and involved officials from the Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and Air Force who used three surface ships and 12 aircraft, according to the military.
    — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
  • On July 4, the ships will participate in what organizers say will be the largest-ever flotilla of international tall ships and military vessels in New York Harbor.
    — Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 1 July 2026
Definition of ships
Verb
  • Victory Cruise Lines, which sails on the Great Lakes, says 2026 bookings are up more than 20 percent for itineraries such as a 10-night trip that sails on all five Great Lakes.
    — Jane Wooldridge, Travel + Leisure, 3 July 2026
  • Star of the Seas still sails out of Port Canaveral, housing guests on what is tied for the title of world’s largest cruise ship.
    — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 June 2026
Definition of sails
Noun
  • Kelce would take the women on dates to concerts, on yachts and on private jets.
    — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Standing near yachts, Mercedes Moné boasts about winning the Owen Hart Cup for the second consecutive year.
    — Rob Wolkenbrod, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of yachts
Verb
  • The blockage of the strait, which normally ferries 20% of the world's oil, sent global energy prices soaring.
    — Kevin Breuninger,Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 9 Apr. 2026
  • Iran has effectively halted trade traveling through the Strait of Hormuz, the maritime trade route that ferries roughly 20% of the world’s petroleum.
    — Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026
Definition of ferries
Noun
  • Māori mythology locates Karikari as the location where the first canoes landed in New Zealand.
    — Nielsen Dinwoodie, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
  • Rescuers rowed boats, canoes, and rafts to people trapped in homes and businesses and on rooftops.
    — Kansas City Public Library staff, Kansas City Star, 1 July 2026
Definition of canoes
Noun
  • Gnome Apothecary crafts small-batch herbal medicines in the Hudson Valley that honor the wisdom of plants, support everyday wellness, and deepen the relationship between people and the natural world.
    — RS Editors, Rolling Stone, 2 July 2026
  • Explore unique crafts, goods and gifts from over 15 local vendors.
    — Lesly Gregory, AJC.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of crafts
Noun
  • When Paul Revere came to Portsmouth with news that the British were headed toward the fort, Cheswill rode to Exeter to help spread the news and build rafts to defend Portsmouth Harbor.
    — Catherine Messier, The Providence Journal, 4 July 2026
  • Bring your innertubes and rafts or borrow some and enjoy a family-friendly movie under the stars.
    — Linda Mcintosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 July 2026
Definition of rafts

Browse Nearby Words

boatloads
boats
bob
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Cite this Entry

“Boats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boats. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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