boast

¹

[ bohst ]

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.

boast

²

[ bohst ]

verb (used with object)

, Masonry.

1. to dress or shape (stone) roughly.

boast

¹

/ bəʊst /

verb

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

boast

²

/ 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

boast

³

/ bəʊst /

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

Derived Forms

• ˈboasting, nounadjective
• ˈboastingly, adverb
• ˈboaster, noun
• ˈboasted, adjective

Other Words From

• boasting·ly adverb
• boastless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of boast¹

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

Origin of boast²

First recorded in 1815–25; of uncertain origin

Word History and Origins

Origin of boast¹

C19: of unknown origin

Origin of boast²

C13: of uncertain origin

Origin of boast³

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

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

Liberals either boast or comfort themselves that their own beliefs push humanity forward.

From The Daily Beast

Beer-swilling Britain and Spain now boast impressive varietals while America is challenging France with how much wine is consumed.

From The Daily Beast

The Great Lakes states, for example, boast the largest concentration of engineering jobs (more than 318,000) of any major region.

From The Daily Beast

McConnell did what he did in 2005, and he was foolish enough to boast about it in public less than two weeks before an election.

From The Daily Beast

Badges hanging from their necks boast small national flags, and a cacophony of accents represents more than 20 countries.

From The Daily Beast

He leant against the wall of his refuge, notwithstanding this boast, and licked the ice to moisten his parched lips.

From Project Gutenberg

He had discovered that the all-glorious boast of Spain was not exempt from the infirmities of common men.

From Project Gutenberg

He was good-looking, as far as regularity of features and a well-formed figure went, but mentally not much to boast of.

From Project Gutenberg

He may have nothing to boast about himself, and his distorted mind may magnify the deeds of the younger man.

From Project Gutenberg

Piegan shortly proved that he made no vain boast when he asserted his ability to follow their track.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bluster