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.
Michigan has a long tradition of riverboats serving as both community attractions and cultural landmarks. Nour Rahal, Freep.com, 29 Jan. 2026 And one writer even got to stay on that beat for another half year after that pair of riverboats set sail on June 17, 1993. Denise Crosby, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026 Owned by Abercrombie & Kent, a pioneer of luxury safaris since 1962, the company expanded into accommodations just before the turn of the century with Olonana in Kenya’s Maasai Mara and has since also operated boutique riverboats, including the new Pure Amazon in Peru that debuted this past summer. Christina Liao, Vogue, 14 Jan. 2026 The 99-foot Memphis Queen III riverboat was scheduled to roll up the river to Little Rock and North Little Rock in the summer months to test the market. Arkansas Online, 31 Dec. 2025 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 5 Feb. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on riverboat

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