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

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.

Related Words

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

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

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

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

The other bedrooms offer the same lavish touch and enough space for at least a queen-sized bed, while the bathrooms boast glass-enclosed showers, large soaking tubs, and dual vanities.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

It’s harder and harder to find U.S. stock-focused mutual funds that boast generous dividend yields.

From Barron's • Apr. 12, 2026

For the last time West Ham United can boast similar you must go back even further to 1980, when they beat Arsenal 1-0 to lift the FA Cup.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

The Dodgers boast the best team in the world.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 25, 2026

The boast seemed justified to Jim and Farmer when they read the official data, which revealed a remarkably low incidence of TB.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

Related Words

• claim
• exhibit
• own
• possess