rafting

American  

[raf-ting, rahf-] / ˈræf tɪŋ, ˈrɑf- /

noun

1. the sport of traveling on rivers and streams by raft.

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Etymology

Origin of rafting

First recorded in 1690–1700; raft ¹ + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

Marczak said he had begun the film almost by accident, when he and his wife were rafting down the river thinking about a fiction project when they ran into trouble.

From Barron's • Jan. 24, 2026

Longer races, the ones Crane is involved in, can last several days and include running, mountain biking, climbing, white-water rafting and rappelling over courses that extend for hundreds of miles.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 22, 2025

Both the Guisane and Durance are popular rivers for white water rafting, fed by glaciers and snowmelt in the spring.

From BBC • Jul. 20, 2025

If the commission sets new terms that boost flows, it could open up more of the Kern River’s popular rapids for a longer period each year, bringing a boon to boaters and whitewater rafting businesses.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 6, 2025

When I was finally allowed to read it, I very well knew this was no simple tale of rafting down a river but the everlasting story of America itself, with all our glory and shame.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam