ferry

American  

[fer-ee] / ˈfɛr i /

noun

ferries plural

1. a commercial service with terminals and boats for transporting persons, automobiles, etc., across a river or other comparatively small body of water.

2. a ferryboat.

3. a service for flying airplanes over a particular route, especially the delivery of airplanes to an overseas purchaser or base of operations.

4. the legal right to ferry passengers, cargo, etc., and to charge for the service.

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verb (used with object)

ferries, present (3rd person singular) ferried, past participle, past ferrying present participle

1. to carry or convey back and forth over a fixed route in a boat or plane.

2. to fly (an airplane) over a particular route, especially for delivery.

verb (used without object)

ferries, present (3rd person singular) ferried, past participle, past ferrying present participle

1. to go in a ferry.

ferry British  

/ ˈfɛrɪ /

noun

1. Also called: ferryboat.  a vessel for transporting passengers and usually vehicles across a body of water, esp as a regular service

2. 1. such a service

   2. ( in combination )

      a ferryman

3. a legal right to charge for transporting passengers by boat

4. the act or method of delivering aircraft by flying them to their destination

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verb

1. to transport or go by ferry

2. to deliver (an aircraft) by flying it to its destination

3. (tr) to convey (passengers, goods, etc)

   the guests were ferried to the church in taxis

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• unferried
  adjective

Inflected Forms

noun

• ferries
  plural

Conjugated Forms

Present

• have ferried
  perfect
• has ferried
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have been ferrying
  perfect progressive
• am ferrying
  progressive 1st person singular
• is ferrying
  progressive 3rd person singular
• are ferrying
  progressive
• ferrying
  participle
• has been ferrying
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• ferries
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had ferried
  perfect
• had been ferrying
  perfect progressive
• were ferrying
  progressive plural
• was ferrying
  progressive singular
• ferried
  participle
• ferried
  simple

Future

• will ferry
  simple
• will have ferried
  perfect
• will have been ferrying
  perfect progressive
• will be ferrying
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of ferry

before 1150; Middle English ferien, Old English ferian to carry; cognate with Old Norse ferja, Gothic farjan; akin to fare

Explanation

A ferry is a boat that carries people, cars, and cargo back and forth across a body of water. The Staten Island Ferry ferries commuters from Manhattan to Staten Island every ten minutes during rush hour. To ferry means to transport by ferry, or to transport in other ferry-like ways, i.e., multiple short trips. If you have an ice-skating birthday party, your dad might ferry a few van loads of kids back to your house afterward, for pizza and cake.

Example Sentences

CCO salaries have risen to a median base range of $400,000-$450,000, up 12%-14% from two years earlier, according to Korn Ferry.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

Mackenzie was spotted going into the water off Ferry Boat Lane in Mexborough at about 20:00 BST on Saturday and had not been seen since.

From BBC • Jun. 1, 2026

Ferry Meadows in Peterborough is one of the first places he intends to visit with Louis once the new caravan is ready, which will give his dog a dedicated place to sleep.

From BBC • May 28, 2026

The first part of the whale-detection network was installed on Angel Island, with the second planned MV Lyra, a vessel operated by SF Bay Ferry connecting Vallejo to downtown San Francisco, according to the release.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026

They reached the entrance to the Ferry lane at last.

From "The Fellowship of the Ring" by J.R.R. Tolkien

Related Words

• carry
• chauffeur
• lug
• send
• ship
• shuttle
• tote
• transport