lifeboat

noun

life·​boat ˈlīf-ˌbōt How to pronounce lifeboat (audio)
: 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.
But though the ship was seaworthy and well-stocked with cargo and supplies, its lifeboat was missing and not a single person was aboard. Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 4 Dec. 2024 Expected to be a title contender, the Bucks have started 2-7 and have no lifeboats. Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024 Not surprisingly, there were no photos taken during Shackleton’s 800-mile lifeboat journey across the South Seas to seek help. Benjamin Svetkey, The Hollywood Reporter, 30 Oct. 2024 And his administration will have ample opportunities to slow or even kill future transactions – lifeboats that some media companies may need to survive. Matt Egan, CNN, 21 Nov. 2024 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

Dictionary Entries Near lifeboat

Cite this Entry

“Lifeboat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lifeboat. Accessed 3 Jan. 2025.

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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