boarding

American  

[bawr-ding, bohr-] / ˈbɔr dɪŋ, ˈboʊr- /

noun

1. wooden boards collectively.

2. a structure of boards, as in a fence or a floor.

3. the act of a person who boards a ship, train, airplane, or the like.

   an uneventful boarding.

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boarding British  

/ ˈbɔːdɪŋ /

noun

1. a structure of boards, such as a floor or fence

2. timber boards collectively

3. 1. the act of embarking on an aircraft, train, ship, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      a boarding pass

4. a process used in tanning to accentuate the natural grain of hides, in which the surface of a softened leather is lightly creased by folding grain to grain and the fold is worked to and fro across the leather

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Other Word Forms

• preboarding adjective

Etymology

Origin of boarding

First recorded in 1525–35; board + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Our protagonist comes from a nondescript family, attends a minor boarding school, falls in love with Oxford, enlists in the British army and is transformed forever by a trip to North Africa.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

"Overnight, U.S. forces carried out a maritime interdiction and right-of-visit boarding of the sanctioned stateless vessel M/T Majestic X transporting oil from Iran, in the Indian Ocean," it said on X.

From Barron's • Apr. 23, 2026

Rose grew up in east London, but attended boarding school in Eastbourne.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

Before boarding an escalator, one must pass a gargantuan wrap-around ad big enough to sport the film’s entire cast, including supporting players Emily Blunt and Stanley Tucci.

From Salon • Apr. 20, 2026

In chapter 9 you will read about boarding schools created by the US government.

From "An Indigenous People’s History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

Related Words

• catch
• climb on
• enter
• get on
• hop on