noun
lifeboat
LYF-boht
noun
1
A small boat built to rescue people from a sinking or distressed ship, or to carry passengers to safety.
"Crew members lowered the lifeboats as the ship began to list."
"Every cruise ship must carry enough lifeboats for all passengers."
How to Use Lifeboat
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small rescue boat carried on ships in case of emergency.
Common pairings
launch a lifeboat
lifeboat drill
board the lifeboat
Word Forms
lifeboated past tense, lifeboats plural, lifeboats singular
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “lifeboat”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Crew members lowered the _____ as the ship began to list.
Etymology
A straightforward compound of life + boat, naming a boat built specifically to save lives.