boat
gb/bˈoʊt/ us/bˈoʊt/
A1
English
~ 1400
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A1
entity
1
Small vessel for water travel
A small vehicle that moves on water.
Usage pattern:
[someone] gets on [a boat]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'boat' with 'ship'; 'ship' is usually larger and used for longer journeys at sea.
Synonyms
vessel (More formal and can refer to ships as well as boats.)
|
craft (A general term for any type of boat or ship, often used in technical contexts.)
Antonyms
ship (Refers to a much larger sea-going vessel, often ocean-going.)
Collocations
row a boat
|sail a boat
|board a boat
|fishing boat
|speed boat
Themes
travel
|transportation
|daily life
Examples
- We rented a boat to explore the lake.
- The fisherman repaired his wooden boat.
- Tourists boarded the boat for a sunset cruise.
- She learned how to steer a boat last summer.
- The rescue team arrived in an inflatable boat.
Learner examples
- The man is in the boat.
- We take the boat to the island.
- I see a big boat on the river.
- They sit in the small boat.
Verb
A2
action
2
Travel in a boat
To go somewhere on water in a boat.
Usage pattern:
[someone] boats to [a place]
Common mistake:
Some learners use 'boat' only as a noun; it can also be a verb meaning to travel by boat.
Synonyms
sail (Specifically refers to traveling in a sail-powered vessel, but sometimes used generally.)
Antonyms
walk (Traveling on foot instead of by watercraft.)
Collocations
boat across the river
|boat to the island
|boat along the coast
Themes
travel
|transportation
Examples
- We boated across the bay to reach the village.
- They boated down the river for hours.
- She often boats to work during the summer months.
Learner examples
- We boat to the other side.
- They boat on the lake.
- He boats to the island every day.
Noun
informal
B1
entity
3
Serving dish shaped like a boat
A dish for holding sauce or gravy at the table.
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'boat' here means an actual watercraft; in this sense it refers to a dish shaped like one.
Synonyms
gravy dish (A plain descriptive term without reference to shape.)
Collocations
gravy boat
|sauce boat
Themes
food
|kitchen
|food_drink
|daily_life
Examples
- She poured the gravy from the silver gravy boat.
- The sauce boat was placed in the center of the table.
- We bought a new porcelain gravy boat for special dinners.
Learner examples
- Please pass me the gravy boat.
- The sauce is in the gravy boat.
- She puts soup in the sauce boat.
Grammar
Dictionary form
boat
IPA
GB/bˈoʊt/
US/bˈoʊt/
Syllables & stress
boat (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (boat)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: boat
- Plural: boat, boats
Verb
- Base: boat
- 3rd Person Singular: boats
- Present Participle: boating
- Past: boated
Word family
Forms
boats
noun
boating
verb
boated
verb
Related words
sailboat
noun
motorboat
noun
houseboat
noun
boater
noun
Advanced or less common
boathouse
noun
Expressions
miss the boat
1/mˈɪs ðə bˈoʊt/
idiom
informal
Fail to take an opportunity in time
To be too late to get something or do something.
Examples
- I wanted to apply for that job, but I missed the boat.
- You’ll miss the boat if you don’t buy tickets soon.
push the boat out
1/pˈʊʃ ðə bˈoʊt ˈaʊt/
idiom
informal
Spend more than usual for celebration
To spend more money than usual, often for a special event.
Examples
- They really pushed the boat out for their wedding anniversary.
- Let’s push the boat out and have champagne tonight.
in the same boat
1/ˈɪn ðə sˈeɪm bˈoʊt/
idiom
informal
Share the same problem or situation
To be in the same bad situation as someone else.
Examples
- We’re all in the same boat after losing our jobs.
- Don’t worry, you’re not alone – we’re in the same boat.
in the same boat
2/ˈɪn ðə sˈeɪm bˈoʊt/
idiom
in a shared difficult situation
In the same bad or hard situation as other people.
Examples
- We're all in the same boat after losing our jobs.
- Don't worry, many students are in the same boat during exams.
rock the boat
1/ɹˈɑk ðə bˈoʊt/
idiom
informal
Upset an existing situation
To cause problems by changing something that works well now.
Examples
- Everything is going smoothly, so don’t rock the boat.
- He tends to rock the boat whenever he joins a new team.
rock the boat
2/ɹˈɑk ðə bˈoʊt/
idiom
Disturb a stable situation
To say or do something that changes a good situation and may cause problems.
Examples
- I don't want to rock the boat by asking for more money now.
- Everything is going well—let's not rock the boat.
whatever floats your boat
1/wˌʌtˈɛvɚ flˈoʊts jˈʊɹ bˈoʊt/
idiom
informal
do what makes you happy
Do what makes you happy or is right for you, even if others don't agree.
Examples
- If you want to wear pajamas all day, whatever floats your boat.
- You like putting ketchup on pizza? Whatever floats your boat.
- He likes pineapple on pizza—whatever floats your boat.
- If you want to work all night, whatever floats your boat.
- He listens to the same song all day, but hey, whatever floats his boat.
whatever floats your boat
2/wˌʌtˈɛvɚ flˈoʊts jˈʊɹ bˈoʊt/
idiom
informal
Do what makes you happy
Do whatever you like or enjoy, even if others don’t agree.
Examples
- You want pineapple on pizza? Whatever floats your boat.
- He spends his weekends birdwatching – whatever floats his boat.