boast
1 Americanverb (used without object)
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to speak with exaggeration and excessive pride, especially about oneself.
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to speak with pride (often followed byof ).
He boasted of his family's wealth.
verb (used with object)
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to speak of with excessive pride or vanity.
He boasts himself a genius.
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to be proud in the possession of.
The town boasts a new school.
noun
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a thing boasted of; a cause for pride.
Talent is his boast. It is her boast that she has never betrayed a friend.
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exaggerated or objectionable speech; bragging.
empty boasts and threats.
verb (used with object)
verb
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(intr; sometimes foll by of or about) to speak in exaggerated or excessively proud terms of one's possessions, skills, or superior qualities; brag
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(tr) to possess (something to be proud of)
the city boasts a fine cathedral
noun
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a bragging statement
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a possession, attribute, attainment, etc, that is or may be bragged about
noun
verb
verb
Usage
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.
Related Words
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 Word Forms
- boasted adjective
- boaster noun
- boasting noun
- boastingly adverb
- boastless adjective
Etymology
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
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
So even though “Sentimental Value” boasts a cast that could wind up with as many as four Oscar nods, the nominating committee passed on the Norwegian film.
From Los Angeles Times
The Dodgers, who also boast Japanese pitcher and World Series Most Valuable Player Yoshinobu Yamamoto, beat the Toronto Blue Jays in a seventh-game thriller last November to defend their title.
From Barron's
Fury enjoyed two reigns as heavyweight champion and boasts a professional record of 34 wins, two defeats - both against Usyk - and one draw with Deontay Wilder.
From BBC
Annual leave stands at about four weeks per year in Australia, and it also boasts 13-14 public bank holidays a year, compared to the UK's eight.
From BBC
At the Armoni Inn & Suites, rooms boast modern appliances and glossy wood furniture, while a chandelier hovers in the foyer near a swanky sitting area.
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
