boast

1
[ bohst ]
See synonyms for: boastboastedboastingboasts on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)
  1. to speak with exaggeration and excessive pride, especially about oneself.

  2. to speak with pride (often followed by of): He boasted of his family's wealth.

verb (used with object)
  1. to speak of with excessive pride or vanity: He boasts himself a genius.

  2. to be proud in the possession of: The town boasts a new school.

noun
  1. a thing boasted of; a cause for pride: Talent is his boast. It is her boast that she has never betrayed a friend.

  2. exaggerated or objectionable speech; bragging: empty boasts and threats.

Origin of boast

1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English bost (noun), bosten (verb), of uncertain origin

synonym study For boast

1, 2. Boast, brag imply vocal self-praise or claims to superiority over others. Boast usually refers to a particular ability, possession, etc., that may be one of such kind as to justify a good deal of pride: He boasts of his ability as a singer. Brag, a more colloquial term, usually suggests a more ostentatious and exaggerated boasting but less well-founded: He brags loudly of his marksmanship.

Other words from boast

  • boast·ing·ly, adverb
  • boastless, adjective

Other definitions for boast (2 of 2)

boast2
[ bohst ]

verb (used with object)Masonry.
  1. to dress or shape (stone) roughly.

Origin of boast

2
First recorded in 1815–25; of uncertain origin

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use boast in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for boast (1 of 3)

boast1

/ (bəʊst) /


verb
  1. (intr; sometimes foll by of or about) to speak in exaggerated or excessively proud terms of one's possessions, skills, or superior qualities; brag

  2. (tr) to possess (something to be proud of): the city boasts a fine cathedral

noun
  1. a bragging statement

  2. a possession, attribute, attainment, etc, that is or may be bragged about

Origin of boast

1
C13: of uncertain origin

Derived forms of boast

  • boaster, noun
  • boasting, noun, adjective
  • boastingly, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for boast (2 of 3)

boast2

/ (bəʊst) /


verb
  1. (tr) to shape or dress (stone) roughly with a broad chisel

Origin of boast

2
C19: of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for boast (3 of 3)

boast3

/ (bəʊst) squash /


noun
  1. a stroke in which the ball is hit on to one of the side walls before hitting the front wall

verb
  1. to hit (the ball) in this way or make such a stroke

Origin of boast

3
C19: perhaps from French bosse the place where the ball hits the wall

Derived forms of boast

  • boasted, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012