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 byof ).

   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. (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

²

/ 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

boast

³

/ bəʊst /

verb

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

Other Word Forms

• boastingly adverb
• boastless adjective
• boasting noun
• boaster noun
• boasted 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

C13: of uncertain origin

Origin of boast²

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

Origin of boast³

C19: of unknown origin

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

The 38-year-old also currently serves as acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, which is not typically a position boasting a purview in European security negotiations.

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Another one of the bathrooms is slightly less lavish but still boasts a chic aesthetic thanks to its wooden floors and marble vanity.

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For years, high-schoolers have boasted in college applications about learning Latin, leading the chess club or acing Advanced Placement Physics.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Management was able to boast that the number of its “88VIP” members, their highest-spending consumer group, increased by double digits to 56 million.

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The pad is situated along the East River and boasts access to the exclusive Sutton Square garden.

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Related Words

• claim 
• exhibit 
• own 
• possess 

When To Use

What does boast mean?

To boast is to brag, especially in a way that exaggerates or shows excessive pride about the boaster’s skills, possessions, or accomplishments.The word boast can also be used as a noun to refer to such a claim, as in He made outrageous boasts about how he once rode a shark.People most often boast about themselves—their skills, their possessions, or the things that they have accomplished—but a person can also boast about someone else. A parent might boast about their child’s accomplishments, for example.Someone who is known for boasting or who boasts excessively can be described as boastful.The word boast can also mean to possess something in a way that’s considered worthy of pride, as in The school boasts a new library and gym. A product may be said to boast a certain feature, as in The new model boasts a 10-inch display. This sense of the word does not imply exaggeration or excessive pride like the primary sense of the word often does.Example: He boasts about how good he is, but I’ve never actually seen him perform.