duck
17 synonyms for duck, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A web-footed water bird, often kept domestically or hunted.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
A web-footed water bird, often kept domestically or hunted.
“A mother duck led her ducklings across the road and the traffic stopped.”
How to use duck
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
duck out of
duck a question
sitting duck
Etymology
From Old English dūcan ("to dip, dive, duck"), related to German and Dutch words meaning "to dive" or "to bend down".
Full origin of duck →Frequently asked questions
What does “duck” mean?
The word “duck” means a web-footed water bird, often kept domestically or hunted. In plain terms, the water bird, the action of quickly dropping down to avoid something, or (informally) dodging a difficult task.
How do you pronounce “duck”?
“Duck” is pronounced duhk (/dʌk/ in IPA).
How do you use “duck” in a sentence?
Here is “duck” used in a sentence: “They fed bread to the ducks at the park pond.”
What is another word for “duck”?
Words with a similar meaning to “duck” include duck down and friend.
What part of speech is “duck”?
Depending on how it is used, “duck” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “duck” come from?
The word “duck” comes from Old English. From Old English dūcan ("to dip, dive, duck"), related to German and Dutch words meaning "to dive" or "to bend down".
Is “duck” a common word?
“Duck” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “duck” have?
“Duck” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a web-footed water bird, often kept domestically or hunted.
What is the difference between a duck and a goose?
A duck is a smaller web-footed water bird with a relatively short neck, while a goose is larger with a longer neck. Both are waterfowl, but "duck" refers to the smaller species often kept domestically or hunted.
What is the difference between the noun "duck" and the verb "duck"?
The noun duck names a web-footed water bird. The verb duck means to lower the head or body quickly, usually to avoid being hit or seen.
What is a male duck and a female duck called?
A male duck is called a drake and a female duck is called a hen. The young are ducklings, while "duck" serves as the general term for the bird.
