wagon
WA-guhn
Wagon (noun) means a four-wheeled vehicle used for carrying heavy loads, historically pulled by horses. Example: “A farmer drove a wagon full of hay down the lane.”
noun
1
A four-wheeled vehicle used for carrying heavy loads, historically pulled by horses.
"A farmer drove a wagon full of hay down the lane."
"The old wagon creaked as the horses pulled it up the hill."
"Settlers crossed the plains in covered wagons."
verb
1
To transport something by wagon.
"In those days, farmers wagoned their timber to the river by hand and horse."
"Every autumn the villagers wagon the apples down to the cider mill."
"But then he learned about the junk man who brought newspapers, bottles, magazines and metal. So he made the neighborhood rounds collecting these items and then wagonned them down town to the junk yard."
— Wesley Karney, That wagon’s been draggin’ behind many a bright-eyed boy (1985)
"They wagoned the grain into town to sell at market."
How to use wagon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA cart or vehicle for hauling loads, often used historically or in the phrase "on the wagon" (abstaining from alcohol).
Memory tip
"On the wagon" means someone has stopped drinking alcohol; "off the wagon" means they've started again.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
covered wagon
on the wagon
station wagon
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- wagons
- Past tense
- wagoned, wagonned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A farmer drove a _____ full of hay down the lane.
Etymology
From Middle Dutch "wagen", tracing back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to carry" or "to transport" — the same root behind "way" and "weigh".
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for wagon
dragon
Aragon
nonagon
octagon
paragon
heptagon
icosagon
pentagon
tarragon
dodecagon
bandwagon
pendragon
See all rhymes for wagon →
Frequently asked questions
What does “wagon” mean?
The word “wagon” means a four-wheeled vehicle used for carrying heavy loads, historically pulled by horses. In plain terms, a cart or vehicle for hauling loads, often used historically or in the phrase "on the wagon" (abstaining from alcohol).
How do you pronounce “wagon”?
“Wagon” is pronounced WA-guhn (/ˈwæɡən/ in IPA).
How do you use “wagon” in a sentence?
Here is “wagon” used in a sentence: “Settlers crossed the plains in covered wagons.”
What part of speech is “wagon”?
Depending on how it is used, “wagon” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “wagon” come from?
The word “wagon” comes from Dutch. From Middle Dutch "wagen", tracing back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to carry" or "to transport" — the same root behind "way" and "weigh".
Is “wagon” a common word?
“Wagon” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “wagon” have?
“Wagon” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a four-wheeled vehicle used for carrying heavy loads, historically pulled by horses.
What is the difference between a wagon and a cart?
A wagon is a four-wheeled vehicle for carrying heavy loads, historically pulled by horses. A cart is usually smaller and typically has two wheels. The number of wheels and the load capacity are the main differences.
What is the difference between a wagon and a carriage?
A wagon is built to carry heavy goods and loads, while a carriage is designed to carry people in greater comfort. Both were traditionally horse-drawn, but their purposes differ.
Is a station wagon the same as a wagon?
A station wagon is a type of car with an extended rear cargo area, named by analogy with the load-carrying wagon. In everyday use wagon can be short for station wagon, though the original wagon is a horse-drawn load vehicle.
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