ferried; ferrying
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
: to cross water in a boat
plural ferries
1
: a place where persons or things are carried across a body of water (such as a river) in a boat
2
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
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
George Caulkin, New York Times, 13 June 2025
While Musk is championing the promise of robotaxis – self-driving cars without a driver than can ferry around paying passengers – there are concerns about both safety and their viability as a business.
—Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 12 June 2025
New Atlas, 13 June 2025
Arrive just before dusk, and the ferries that serve this area (yes, there’s a seasonal ferry to car-free Bald Head Island) are whisper-quiet.
—Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ferry
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Verb
At this rate, Newcastle’s cohort of goalkeepers will need their own bus to ferry them to away matches.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 13 June 2025
While Musk is championing the promise of robotaxis – self-driving cars without a driver than can ferry around paying passengers – there are concerns about both safety and their viability as a business.
—Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 12 June 2025
Noun
The ferry operator transitioned to low-sulphur fuel in the early 1990s, followed by a number of other measures to reduce carbon emissions over the years.
—New Atlas, 13 June 2025
Arrive just before dusk, and the ferries that serve this area (yes, there’s a seasonal ferry to car-free Bald Head Island) are whisper-quiet.
—Allison Palmer, Charlotte Observer, 11 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for ferry
Cite this Entry
“Ferry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ferry. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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