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

Playing off the reference to the Shiba Inu meme associated with the cryptocurrency of the same name, Musk took to his platform shortly after the announcement to boast his key to the kingdom, writing, "The merch will be fire."

From Salon

He wears a trim salt-and-pepper goatee and a zip-up hoodie, and takes every opportunity to boast about his two sons, 19 and 15, who have joined the walk nearly every year of their lives.

From Los Angeles Times

A boast of sexually mauling women.

From Los Angeles Times

Ange Postecoglou boldly invited pressure on himself and Tottenham with his recent boast that he "always" wins a trophy in his second season in charge.

From BBC

That pressure is behind the chancellor's decision to flex the spending rules she used to boast about being "ironclad".

From BBC

Related Words

• bluster