boast

1
[ bohst ]
/ boʊst /

verb (used without object)

to speak with exaggeration and excessive pride, especially about oneself.
to speak with pride (often followed by of): He boasted of his family's wealth.

verb (used with object)

to speak of with excessive pride or vanity: He boasts himself a genius.
to be proud in the possession of: The town boasts a new school.

noun

a thing boasted of; a cause for pride: Talent is his boast. It is her boast that she has never betrayed a friend.
exaggerated or objectionable speech; bragging: empty boasts and threats.

Origin of boast

1
1250–1300; Middle English bost (noun), bosten (v.), of uncertain origin

synonym study for boast

1, 2. Boast, brag imply vocal self-praise or claims to superiority over others. Boast usually refers to a particular ability, possession, etc., that may be one of such kind as to justify a good deal of pride: He boasts of his ability as a singer. Brag, a more colloquial term, usually suggests a more ostentatious and exaggerated boasting but less well-founded: He brags loudly of his marksmanship.

OTHER WORDS FROM boast

boast·ing·ly, adverb boast·less, adjective

Words nearby boast

Definition for boast (2 of 2)

boast 2
[ bohst ]
/ boʊst /

verb (used with object) Masonry.

to dress or shape (stone) roughly.

Origin of boast

2
First recorded in 1815–25; of uncertain origin

Example sentences from the Web for boast

British Dictionary definitions for boast (1 of 3)

boast 1
/ (bəʊst) /

verb

(intr; sometimes foll by of or about) to speak in exaggerated or excessively proud terms of one's possessions, skills, or superior qualities; brag
(tr) to possess (something to be proud of) the city boasts a fine cathedral

noun

a bragging statement
a possession, attribute, attainment, etc, that is or may be bragged about

Derived forms of boast

boaster, noun boasting, noun, adjective boastingly, adverb

Word Origin for boast

C13: of uncertain origin

British Dictionary definitions for boast (2 of 3)

boast 2
/ (bəʊst) /

verb

(tr) to shape or dress (stone) roughly with a broad chisel

Word Origin for boast

C19: of unknown origin

British Dictionary definitions for boast (3 of 3)

boast 3
/ (bəʊst) squash /

noun

a stroke in which the ball is hit on to one of the side walls before hitting the front wall

verb

to hit (the ball) in this way or make such a stroke

Derived forms of boast

boasted, adjective

Word Origin for boast

C19: perhaps from French bosse the place where the ball hits the wall