boast

¹ American  

[bohst] / boʊst /

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.

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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

• boasts
  plural

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 American  

[bohst] / boʊst /

verb (used with object)

Masonry.

1. to dress or shape (stone) roughly.

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boast ¹ British  

/ 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

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noun

1. a bragging statement

2. a possession, attribute, attainment, etc, that is or may be bragged about

boast ² British  

/ bəʊst /

noun

1. a stroke in which the ball is hit on to one of the side walls before hitting the front wall

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verb

1. to hit (the ball) in this way or make such a stroke

boast ³ British  

/ bəʊst /

verb

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

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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.

Synonym Usage

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

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• boasts
  plural

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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

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Explanation

When you boast you are bragging about yourself and your accomplishments (or maybe those of your family), often to the boredom and annoyance of your audience. Used as either a noun or a verb, boast usually suggests exaggeration, vanity, or pride. Along those lines, English poet Sir Thomas Overbury, who died in 1613, once said, "The man who has nothing to boast of but his illustrious ancestry is like the potato — the best part underground." However, the word can also be used in a positive way: a town can boast a new library, or a school can boast a high graduation rate.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

boast boasts

That isn’t much of a record for him or his party to boast about.

From Slate ● Oct. 14, 2026

Both companies boast century-old studios, beloved media brands and a recent past that has included several fraught mergers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026

But Iran’s main goal and boast in this war, seizing the Strait, is being reversed.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

Perhaps one of the most alluring aspects of the home, at least for prospective buyers with large families, is that all six of the bedrooms boast their own en-suite bathrooms.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 29, 2026

Oh, it would scare me all right, walking down to Fairfield with spy messages, but I wanted to do it, because it would give me something to boast about to Sam.

From "My Brother Sam is Dead" by James Lincoln Collier and Christopher Collier

The state has the largest economy in the country - and boasts the fourth largest global economy, bigger than India and the whole of the UK.

From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026

Azerbaijan boasts a glittering, monumental capital city, Baku, flush with oil money and foreign investment.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026

The redbrick exterior is complemented by a stately entrance framed by columns, while the interior boasts walnut flooring and expansive living areas.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 22, 2026

Yet while it boasts one of the highest adoption rates in the bloc, Ireland also shows some of the pitfalls of Europe's AI push.

From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026

Mum boasts to visitors and relatives how, no matter what, we sit round as a family to share an evening meal.

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell

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Related Words

• claim
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