ferried; ferrying
1
a
: to carry by boat over a body of water
b
: to cross by a ferry
2
a
: to convey (as by aircraft or motor vehicle) from one place to another : transport
b
: to fly (an airplane) from the factory or other shipping point to a designated delivery point or from one base to another
: to cross water in a boat
plural ferries
1
: a place where persons or things are carried across a body of water (such as a river) in a boat
2
3
: a franchise or right to operate a ferry service across a body of water
4
: an organized service and route for flying airplanes especially across a sea or continent for delivery to the user
Synonyms
Examples of ferry in a Sentence
Verb
The cars were ferried across the river.
They ferry supplies to the island.
Noun
Ferries to both islands depart daily.
You can get there by ferry.
We'll meet you at the ferry.
Recent Examples on the Web
Allison Tibaldi, USA TODAY, 3 Aug. 2024
The influx has been a boon to criminal organizations in Mexico, which charge thousands of dollars to ferry customers from safe houses in Tijuana and Mexicali to remote crossings where migrants can skirt the U.S. border wall.
—Nick Miroff, Washington Post, 29 July 2024
Darcie Moran, Detroit Free Press, 14 Aug. 2024
But the explosions in growth also make their industries much more susceptible to Chinese influence and to being cultivated as intermediaries to ferry goods into the U.S. market, which could potentially lead to more scrutiny or even sanctions.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 12 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ferry 
Verb
One day, Zodiacs ferried all passengers to Puerto Gato, a remote peninsula in the Sea of Cortez.
—Allison Tibaldi, USA TODAY, 3 Aug. 2024
The influx has been a boon to criminal organizations in Mexico, which charge thousands of dollars to ferry customers from safe houses in Tijuana and Mexicali to remote crossings where migrants can skirt the U.S. border wall.
—Nick Miroff, Washington Post, 29 July 2024
Noun
Along with the temporary suspension of services, the ferry outfits and the council also agreed to stipulations including:
All tickets already purchased through Star Line will be honored through their expiration.
—Darcie Moran, Detroit Free Press, 14 Aug. 2024
But the explosions in growth also make their industries much more susceptible to Chinese influence and to being cultivated as intermediaries to ferry goods into the U.S. market, which could potentially lead to more scrutiny or even sanctions.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 12 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ferry
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ferry.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near ferry
Cite this Entry
“Ferry.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ferry. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ferry
1 of 2 verb
fer·ry
ˈfer-ē 
ferried; ferrying
1
a
: to carry by boat over a body of water
b
: to cross by a ferry
2
a
: to carry (as by aircraft or motor vehicle) from one place to another
b
: to deliver (an airplane) by flying it to its destination
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