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View synonyms for ferry

ferry

[ fer-ee ]

noun

, plural fer·ries.
  1. a commercial service with terminals and boats for transporting persons, automobiles, etc., across a river or other comparatively small body of water.
  2. a ferryboat.
  3. a service for flying airplanes over a particular route, especially the delivery of airplanes to an overseas purchaser or base of operations.
  4. the legal right to ferry passengers, cargo, etc., and to charge for the service.


verb (used with object)

, fer·ried, fer·ry·ing.
  1. to carry or convey back and forth over a fixed route in a boat or plane.
  2. to fly (an airplane) over a particular route, especially for delivery.

verb (used without object)

, fer·ried, fer·ry·ing.
  1. to go in a ferry.

ferry

/ ˈfɛrɪ /

noun

  1. Also calledferryboat a vessel for transporting passengers and usually vehicles across a body of water, esp as a regular service
    1. such a service
    2. ( in combination )

      a ferryman

  2. a legal right to charge for transporting passengers by boat
  3. the act or method of delivering aircraft by flying them to their destination
“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


verb

  1. to transport or go by ferry
  2. to deliver (an aircraft) by flying it to its destination
  3. tr to convey (passengers, goods, etc)

    the guests were ferried to the church in taxis

“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
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Other Words From

  • un·ferried adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of ferry1

before 1150; Middle English ferien, Old English ferian to carry; cognate with Old Norse ferja, Gothic farjan; akin to fare
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Word History and Origins

Origin of ferry1

Old English ferian to carry, bring; related to Old Norse ferja to transport, Gothic farjan ; see fare
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Example Sentences

Christened the “Loni Jo,” the ferry chugged back from the Kentucky shore and dropped its gate at the foot of Illinois Route 1.

A free, privately owned ferry service at the Port of Cave-In-Rock, continuously operated since the early 1800s, carries roughly 500 vehicles across the river every day.

We have seen vaccine go out on helicopters, plans, cars dog sleds, and ferry.

The adenovirus ferries instructions for making the coronavirus’s spike protein into human cells.

Irish customs authorities on Thursday night announced a temporary easing of customs requirements for goods arriving on ferries from Britain, to get freight moving again.

From Fortune

And earlier that day, the 43-year-old had earned the précis, breaking up a skirmish by the Staten Island Ferry.

There was no trouble on the ferry as it reached Manhattan and a few of the passengers boarded the subway to the protest uptown.

As a precaution against a possible disturbance, the ferry was escorted by a police boat, its blue lights flashing.

Marine One will ferry him to JFK Airport, where Air Force One awaits.

For a more scenic journey, travel by ferry from Whittier or Valdez.

Crossing the river on a ferry, Lawrence and his escort mounted their horses and started for Platte City, but a few miles away.

Lee's army is sweeping victoriously through Maryland; Harper's Ferry taken with ten thousand prisoners.

It finally plunged sharply down to a steamboat ferry, over which we crossed the Dart and landed directly in the town.

Leaving the city, we crossed Southampton Water on a steam ferry which was guided by a chain stretched from bank to bank.

The original bridge across the Medway to Strood probably dates from the Roman period, taking the place of a ferry.

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