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ferry

Meaning in simple English, pronunciation and examples

Pronunciation: US /ˈferi/

Forms: ferries

ferry means: A boat that regularly carries people, vehicles, or goods across water between the same places.

noun

PASSENGER BOATA2

A boat that regularly carries people, vehicles, or goods across water between the same places.

  • We took a ferry to the island.
  • The ferry carries cars as well as passengers.
  • Two ferries leave this port every morning.

Similar words: ferryboat

Common phrases: take a ferry, car ferry, passenger ferry, board the ferry

BOAT SERVICEB1

A regular service carrying people or goods across water, or the company providing it.

  • The ferry runs throughout the year.
  • They closed the ferry when the bridge opened.
  • Who operates the ferry between these villages?

Similar words: boat service

Common phrases: local ferry, ferry service, operate a ferry

verb

CARRY ACROSSB2

To carry people or things a short distance between places, especially across water in a boat.

  • Boats ferry people across the river.
  • We were ferried to the island before sunrise.
  • The driver ferries guests between the hotel and the beach.

How to use it: ferry someone/something across something (Small boats ferry passengers across the river.); ferry someone/something to somewhere (A boat ferries supplies to the island.)

Similar words: carry, transport

Common phrases: ferry passengers, ferry someone across, ferry someone to somewhere

REPEATED TRIPSB2

To move people or things between places, often by making several trips.

  • I ferry the children around every afternoon.
  • Waiters ferried plates from the kitchen to the tables.
  • We spent hours ferrying boxes between the two buildings.

How to use it: ferry someone/something between places (She ferries her children between school and football practice.)

Similar words: shuttle, carry, transport

Common phrases: ferry children around, ferry plates, ferry someone back

TRANSPORTB2

To take people or things from one place to another in a vehicle.

  • Buses ferry workers to the factory.
  • Helicopters ferried supplies to the mountain village.
  • They used trucks to ferry people to safety.

How to use it: ferry someone/something to somewhere (Trucks ferried the families to a shelter.)

Similar words: transport, carry, convey

Common phrases: ferry supplies, ferry someone to somewhere, ferry people

Questions about ferry

What does ferry mean?

A boat that regularly carries people, vehicles, or goods across water between the same places.

What is ferry in other languages?

Türkçe: feribot · Español: ferri · Français: ferry · Deutsch: Fähre · Italiano: traghetto · 日本語: フェリー

How do you pronounce ferry?

It is pronounced /ˈferi/.

How do you use ferry in a sentence?

We took a ferry to the island. The ferry carries cars as well as passengers.

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