Boats: meaning, definitions and examples

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boats

 

[ boʊts ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

on the water

Boats are watercraft typically smaller than ships and are used for transportation, fishing, leisure activities, and sports. They come in various sizes and types, such as sailboats, motorboats, rowboats, and canoes.

Synonyms

ship, vessel, watercraft.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
boats

Typically used to describe smaller watercraft used for personal or recreational purposes. Often appropriate for fishing trips, leisure rides, or small groups.

  • We rented boats to go fishing for the weekend
  • They own several boats for touring the lake
watercraft

A broad, formal term that encompasses all types of boats, ships, or vessels. Often used in technical discussions, manuals, or when referring to various kinds of water vehicles in general.

  • The marina offers a variety of watercraft for rent, including kayaks and jet skis
  • Modern watercraft are designed with advanced technology for navigation and safety
vessel

A formal term that can refer to any type of large boat or ship, often used in technical, legal, or official contexts such as shipping, marine biology, or safety regulations.

  • The vessel was inspected for compliance with safety standards
  • Marine biologists used the research vessel for their expedition
ship

Best used to describe large, ocean-going vessels, especially those used for transportation, cargo, or military purposes. Suitable for commercial, industrial, or naval contexts.

  • The ship set sail for Europe with a full load of cargo
  • They are building a new cruise ship that can hold thousands of passengers

Examples of usage

  • Many tourists rent boats to explore the lake.
  • The fishermen set out early in their small boats to catch the fresh fish.
Context #2 | Noun

in a row

Boats can also refer to a number of small vehicles linked together in a line for travel or racing purposes. This can include rowing boats or racing shells used in competitive rowing.

Synonyms

racing shells, rowing boats.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
boats

General term for any watercraft, typically used in informal or broad references.

  • Children love to play with toy boats in the pond
  • We rented some boats to explore the lake
rowing boats

Small boats propelled by oars, used for recreation or training in calmer waters.

  • We took the rowing boats out on the river for a relaxing afternoon
  • The rowing club practices every morning in their rowing boats
racing shells

Specific to competitive rowing; sleek, narrow, and lightweight boats designed for speed.

  • The team spent months training in their racing shells
  • During the regatta, the racing shells dashed across the water

Examples of usage

  • The rowing team practiced in their boats early in the morning.
  • The boats lined up at the starting point for the race.

Translations

Translations of the word "boats" in other languages:

🇵🇹 barcos

🇮🇳 नौकाओं

🇩🇪 Boote

🇮🇩 perahu

🇺🇦 човни

🇵🇱 łodzie

🇯🇵 ボート

🇫🇷 bateaux

🇪🇸 barcos

🇹🇷 tekneler

🇰🇷 보트

🇸🇦 قوارب

🇨🇿 lodě

🇸🇰 lode

🇨🇳 

🇸🇮 čolni

🇮🇸 bátar

🇰🇿 қайықтар

🇬🇪 ნავები

🇦🇿 qayıqlar

🇲🇽 barcos

Etymology

The word 'boats' originated from the Old English word 'bat', which means a flat-bottomed boat. Over time, the term evolved to encompass various types of watercraft used for different purposes. Boats have played a crucial role in human history, facilitating exploration, trade, and transportation across bodies of water.

See also: boat, boater, boating, boatman.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #3,498, this word is part of upper-intermediate vocabulary. While not among the most basic terms, it appears often enough to be valuable for advanced communication.