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 by of ):

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

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. 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

Derived Forms

• ˈboasted, adjective
• ˈboasting, nounadjective
• ˈboastingly, adverb
• ˈboaster, noun

Other Words From

• boasting·ly adverb
• boastless 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

C19: of unknown origin

Origin of boast²

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

Origin of boast³

C13: of uncertain 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

In Trump’s closing message the day before Election Day, he boasted, “We stand on the verge of the four greatest years in American history.”

From Salon

In its place is a ride that serves as a celebration, boasting a statement about the communal power of music and a narrative that serves as an American success story.

From Los Angeles Times

“You never overtalk. You never boast. You just do your thing.”

From Los Angeles Times

In its press release, the Academy said the dictionary is a “mirror of an epoch running from the 1950s up to today,” and boasts 21,000 new entries compared to the 1935 version.

From BBC

“It boasts probably the best re-watchability rates of anything in the market. What that represents is an incredibly long tail of engagement for whatever that one project cost.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bluster

More About Boast

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.

Where does boast come from?

The first records of the word boast come from the 1200s. It comes from the Middle English bosten, but its ultimate origin is uncertain.

People who boast are often trying to make their accomplishments or skills seem greater than they actually are. But this isn’t always the case—a person’s boasts may be true. Still, saying that a person boasts usually means that they are thought to lack humility—that they are too prideful.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to boast?

• boaster (noun)
• boastful (adjective)
• boastingly (adverb)

What are some synonyms for boast?

• brag

What are some words that often get used in discussing boast?

• pride
• claim
• exaggerate
• skill
• ability
• possession
• accomplishment

How is boast used in real life?

Boast is most often used in a somewhat negative way. It typically implies that a person is exaggerating or that they are too prideful.

"I have no idea. People who boast about their IQ are losers." – Stephen Hawking, when asked about his IQ.

RIP x

— Letters of Note (@LettersOfNote) March 14, 2018

I’m not impressed with anyone having lots of followers or likes. I’m impressed with people who treat everyone kind & who are humble and real and don’t boast or show off & have bad attitudes.

— Kandee Johnson (@kandeejohnson) November 11, 2017

I truly hope that the little girl who came up to me in the supermarket to boast that not only did she and her sister get chocolate milk but that they were going CAMPING tomorrow has the best time

— Mara “Get Rid of the Nazis” Wilson (@MaraWilson) July 26, 2019

Try using boast!

Which of the following words could be used to describe someone who is known for boasting

A. braggadocious

B. prideful

C. conceited

D. all of the above