riverboat

noun

riv·​er·​boat ˈri-vər-ˌbōt How to pronounce riverboat (audio)
Synonyms of riverboatnext
: a boat for use on a river

Examples of riverboat 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.
Introduced by Walt Disney in California in 1955, it was designed as a tribute to pioneer spirit, with riverboats, wilderness trails and frontier towns. Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026 Tapping into the city's riverboat gambling history at on-land casinos and attending annual festivals celebrating literature, film, and music are also big draws. Anne Olivia Bauso, Travel + Leisure, 22 Apr. 2026 Away from the Atlantic seaboard, Cincinnati was only eclipsed by New Orleans, another busy trading hub connected by the nation’s riverboats. Alexander Coolidge, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026 Babu immediately fell into the flow, picking a nap chair in the bow and inquiring about the riverboat’s construction. Kathryn Romeyn, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for riverboat

Word History

First Known Use

1565, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of riverboat was in 1565

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Riverboat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/riverboat. Accessed 6 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

riverboat

noun
riv·​er·​boat -ˌbōt How to pronounce riverboat (audio)
: a boat used (as for carrying passengers or freight) on a river

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