ferry

[ fer-ee ]

/ ˈfɛr i /

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See synonyms for: ferry / ferried on Thesaurus.com

Definition of ferry

noun, plural fer·ries.

a commercial service with terminals and boats for transporting persons, automobiles, etc., across a river or other comparatively small body of water.

a ferryboat.

a service for flying airplanes over a particular route, especially the delivery of airplanes to an overseas purchaser or base of operations.

the legal right to ferry passengers, cargo, etc., and to charge for the service.

verb (used with object), fer·ried, fer·ry·ing.

to carry or convey back and forth over a fixed route in a boat or plane.

to fly (an airplane) over a particular route, especially for delivery.

verb (used without object), fer·ried, fer·ry·ing.

to go in a ferry.

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Origin of ferry

before 1150; Middle English ferien,Old English ferian to carry; cognate with Old Norse ferja,Gothic farjan; akin to fare

OTHER WORDS FROM ferry

un·fer·ried, adjective

Words nearby ferry

ferrugination, ferruginous, ferruginous duck, ferrule, ferrum, ferry, ferryboat, ferry bridge, ferryman, fertigate, fertile

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use ferry in a sentence

Christened the “Loni Jo,” the ferry chugged back from the Kentucky shore and dropped its gate at the foot of Illinois Route 1.
A day’s drive from Chicago, exploring a very different Illinois|Carson Vaughan|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
A free, privately owned ferry service at the Port of Cave-In-Rock, continuously operated since the early 1800s, carries roughly 500 vehicles across the river every day.
A day’s drive from Chicago, exploring a very different Illinois|Carson Vaughan|February 12, 2021|Washington Post
We have seen vaccine go out on helicopters, plans, cars dog sleds, and ferry.
How is Alaska leading the nation in vaccinating residents? With boats, ferries, planes and snowmobiles.|Cathy Free|February 4, 2021|Washington Post
The adenovirus ferries instructions for making the coronavirus’s spike protein into human cells.
One-shot COVID-19 vaccine is effective against severe disease|Tina Hesman Saey|January 29, 2021|Science News

Irish customs authorities on Thursday night announced a temporary easing of customs requirements for goods arriving on ferries from Britain, to get freight moving again.
Logistics giant DPD pauses U.K. to EU parcel shipments, amid post-Brexit customs chaos|David Meyer|January 8, 2021|Fortune
And earlier that day, the 43-year-old had earned the précis, breaking up a skirmish by the Staten Island Ferry.
Before Eric Garner, There Was Michael Stewart: The Tragic Story of the Real-Life Radio Raheem|Marlow Stern|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There was no trouble on the ferry as it reached Manhattan and a few of the passengers boarded the subway to the protest uptown.
‘I Can’t Breathe!’ ‘I Can’t Breathe!’ A Moral Indictment of Cop Culture|Michael Daly|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As a precaution against a possible disturbance, the ferry was escorted by a police boat, its blue lights flashing.
‘I Can’t Breathe!’ ‘I Can’t Breathe!’ A Moral Indictment of Cop Culture|Michael Daly|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Marine One will ferry him to JFK Airport, where Air Force One awaits.
Behind the Scenes With a ‘Site Agent’: The Secret Service’s Hardest Job|Marc Ambinder|October 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
For a more scenic journey, travel by ferry from Whittier or Valdez.
America’s Best Summer Food Festivals|Lonely Planet|July 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Crossing the river on a ferry, Lawrence and his escort mounted their horses and started for Platte City, but a few miles away.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
Lee's army is sweeping victoriously through Maryland; Harper's Ferry taken with ten thousand prisoners.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
It finally plunged sharply down to a steamboat ferry, over which we crossed the Dart and landed directly in the town.
British Highways And Byways From A Motor Car|Thomas D. Murphy
Leaving the city, we crossed Southampton Water on a steam ferry which was guided by a chain stretched from bank to bank.
British Highways And Byways From A Motor Car|Thomas D. Murphy
The original bridge across the Medway to Strood probably dates from the Roman period, taking the place of a ferry.
The Towns of Roman Britain|James Oliver Bevan

British Dictionary definitions for ferry

ferry

/ (ˈfɛrɪ) /

noun plural -ries

Also called: ferryboat a vessel for transporting passengers and usually vehicles across a body of water, esp as a regular service

such a service
(in combination)a ferryman

a legal right to charge for transporting passengers by boat

the act or method of delivering aircraft by flying them to their destination

verb -ries, -rying or -ried

to transport or go by ferry

to deliver (an aircraft) by flying it to its destination

(tr) to convey (passengers, goods, etc)the guests were ferried to the church in taxis

Word Origin for ferry

Old English ferian to carry, bring; related to Old Norse ferja to transport, Gothic farjan; see fare

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

ferry

Definition of ferry

Origin of ferry

OTHER WORDS FROM ferry

Words nearby ferry

Words related to ferry

How to use ferry in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ferry

Word Origin for ferry