board
bawd
Board (verb) means to get onto a ship, plane, train, or other vehicle to travel. Example: “Passengers were asked to board the plane by row number.”
verb
1
To get onto a ship, plane, train, or other vehicle to travel.
"Passengers were asked to board the plane by row number."
"We boarded the ferry just before it pulled away from the dock."
"We hurried along the platform and boarded the train just as the doors closed."
2
To provide or receive regular meals and a place to sleep, usually for payment.
"The school boards students from overseas during term time."
"She boards with a family near the university while her flat is being repaired."
"Farmers sometimes board seasonal workers in a cottage beside the barn."
noun
1
A flat, thin piece of wood or similar rigid material.
"He nailed a board over the broken window."
"The carpenter sanded a long oak board before fitting it into the shelf."
"Please put a wooden board under the hot pan to protect the table."
2
A group of people who officially manage or advise a company or organization.
"The board approved the new budget on Tuesday."
"She was appointed to the board of directors last year."
"The charity's board meets every month to decide how the donations will be spent."
How to use board
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishDepending on context: a plank of wood, a company's governing committee, or getting onto a vehicle.
Common pairings
board a plane
board of directors
room and board
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Word forms
- Plural
- boards
- Third person singular
- boards
- Past tense
- boarded
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Passengers were asked to _____ the plane by row number.
Etymology
From Old English bord, meaning both "plank" and "table." Senses like "meals" and "committee" developed by association with sitting around a table.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for board
hoard
aboard
onboard
keyboard
cupboard
outboard
seaboard
backboard
starboard
cardboard
surfboard
clipboard
See all rhymes for board →
Frequently asked questions
What does “board” mean?
The word “board” means to get onto a ship, plane, train, or other vehicle to travel. In plain terms, depending on context: a plank of wood, a company's governing committee, or getting onto a vehicle.
How do you pronounce “board”?
“Board” is pronounced bawd (/bɔɹd/ in IPA).
How do you use “board” in a sentence?
Here is “board” used in a sentence: “Passengers were asked to board the plane by row number.”
What part of speech is “board”?
Depending on how it is used, “board” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “board” come from?
The word “board” comes from Old English. From Old English bord, meaning both "plank" and "table." Senses like "meals" and "committee" developed by association with sitting around a table.
Is “board” a common word?
“Board” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “board” have?
“Board” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to get onto a ship, plane, train, or other vehicle to travel.
What is the difference between boarding and embarking?
Boarding is the everyday word for getting onto any vehicle — a plane, train, bus, or ship. Embarking is more formal and traditionally means going aboard a ship, though it also means setting out on a journey or, figuratively, starting any new venture. You board a train, but you embark on an adventure.
What is the opposite of 'to board'?
The opposite is to disembark — to get off a ship, plane, or train once the journey ends. Everyday alternatives include 'get off' and, for buses and trains, 'alight'. Where boarding means stepping onto a vehicle to travel, disembarking means leaving it at the other end.
What does 'now boarding' mean at an airport?
'Now boarding' is the announcement that passengers may begin getting onto the plane. Ground staff usually call groups forward in an order — by seat row, class, or boarding zone — so the aircraft fills smoothly. When your flight is 'now boarding', it is time to have your pass ready and go to the gate.
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