starboard
Americannoun
adjective
adverb
verb (used with or without object)
noun
adjective
verb
Other Word Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
starboardsimple
-
starboardssimple
-
have starboardedperfect
-
has starboardedperfect
-
am starboardingprogressive
-
are starboardingprogressive
-
is starboardingprogressive
-
have been starboardingperfect progressive
-
has been starboardingperfect progressive
Past
-
starboardedsimple
-
had starboardedperfect
-
was starboardingprogressive
-
were starboardingprogressive
-
had been starboardingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of starboard
before 900; Middle English sterbord (noun), Old English stēorbord, equivalent to stēor steering ( see steer 1) + bord side ( see board)
Explanation
The starboard is the right side of a boat or plane. You can also say that anything on the right side of a ship is starboard. This word has to do with direction, specifically direction on a ship. The word originated with sea vessels whose right side was used for steering. Since the stars helped sailors determine direction, this part of the ship became known as the starboard. You can also use starboard as an adjective for anything on the right side of a ship. If you ever ride on a boat, you could probably impress the captain by talking about equipment on the starboard side.
Vocabulary lists containing starboard
The Cay
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"Rogue Wave," Vocabulary from the short story
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Excerpt from "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer"
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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.
“Engine room fire and full of smoke. Unable to assess further damage. All crew are safe and mustered on the starboard side,” the recording said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 7, 2026
MV Lord of the Isles became the latest large vessel out of action when it was pulled from the Oban-Barra route on Tuesday due to a problem with its starboard engine.
From BBC • Apr. 7, 2026
It said the tanker sustained only "minor damage" on the starboard side and that none of the 20-strong crew were hurt.
From Barron's • Nov. 29, 2025
“Shortly after, the boat rolled over to starboard, and the passengers entered the water. The survivor recalled that it started snowing after the boat rolled over while the people were in the water.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 24, 2025
Abel turned to starboard, his hands on the hatch combing.
From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson
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.
