ferry

1 of 2

verb

fer·​ry ˈfer-ē 

ˈfe-rē

ferried; ferrying

transitive verb

1

a

: to carry by boat over a body of water

b

: to cross by a ferry

2

a

: to convey (as by aircraft or motor vehicle) from one place to another : transport

b

: to fly (an airplane) from the factory or other shipping point to a designated delivery point or from one base to another

intransitive verb

: to cross water in a boat

ferry

2 of 2

noun

plural ferries

1

: a place where persons or things are carried across a body of water (such as a river) in a boat

2

: ferryboat

3

: a franchise or right to operate a ferry service across a body of water

4

: an organized service and route for flying airplanes especially across a sea or continent for delivery to the user

Synonyms

Verb

• bear
• carry
• cart
• convey
• haul
• lug
• pack
• tote
• transport

Examples of ferry in a Sentence

Verb

The cars were ferried across the river.

They ferry supplies to the island.

Noun

Ferries to both islands depart daily.

You can get there by ferry.

We'll meet you at the ferry.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Meanwhile, SpaceX has been ferrying astronauts to and from the space station for years as the other contractor under NASA’s space taxi program. —Byjason Ma, Fortune, 25 Oct. 2024

These nuns will also act as silent servants, ferrying the men’s food from kitchen to table with cheerful acquiescence. —Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 25 Oct. 2024

Noun

The ferry moved slowly out of the harbor, through the channel formed by a neighboring island. —Greg Jackson, The New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2024

New York has one of the best transit systems in the world, including trains, buses, ferries, and even a tram. —Hannah Towey, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English ferien, from Old English ferian to carry, convey; akin to Old English faran to go — more at fare

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Kids Definition

ferry

1 of 2 verb

fer·​ry ˈfer-ē 

ferried; ferrying

1

a

: to carry by boat over a body of water

b

: to cross by a ferry

2

a

: to carry (as by aircraft or motor vehicle) from one place to another

b

: to deliver (an airplane) by flying it to its destination

ferry

2 of 2 noun

plural ferries

1

: a place where persons or things are ferried

2

: ferryboat