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Synonyms

boarding

American  
[bawr-ding, bohr-] / ˈbɔr dɪŋ, ˈboʊr- /

noun

  1. wooden boards collectively.

  2. a structure of boards, as in a fence or a floor.

  3. the act of a person who boards a ship, train, airplane, or the like.

    an uneventful boarding.


boarding British  
/ ˈbɔːdɪŋ /

noun

  1. a structure of boards, such as a floor or fence

  2. timber boards collectively

    1. the act of embarking on an aircraft, train, ship, etc

    2. ( as modifier )

      a boarding pass

  3. a process used in tanning to accentuate the natural grain of hides, in which the surface of a softened leather is lightly creased by folding grain to grain and the fold is worked to and fro across the leather

"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

Other Word Forms

  • preboarding adjective

Etymology

Origin of boarding

First recorded in 1525–35; board + -ing 1

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.

“There are lots of ways you can construct this, and there are a lot of boarding forces in the region now,” he said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

It creates a long chain of spending on food, grooming, healthcare, apparel, toys, boarding, and services.

From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026

In Beijing, just two days before boarding his flight to Pyongyang, Graham told reporters that he still didn’t understand the North Korean overture.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 11, 2026

“If the Iranians are willing to negotiate in good faith, we’re certainly willing to extend the open hand,” Vance told reporters before boarding Air Force Two.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

It’s like living with a cruel boarding school teacher inside your own mind.

From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti