Synonyms of barge
: any of various boats: such as
a
: a roomy usually flat-bottomed boat used chiefly for the transport of goods on inland waterways and usually propelled by towing
b
: a large motorboat supplied to the flag officer of a flagship
c
: a roomy pleasure boat
especially : a boat of state elegantly furnished and decorated

barge

2 of 2

verb

barged; barging

transitive verb

: to carry by barge

intransitive verb

1
: to move ponderously or clumsily
2
: to thrust oneself heedlessly or unceremoniously
barged into the meeting

Examples of barge in a Sentence

Verb He came rushing down the stairs, barging into the crowd of people at the bottom. She barged through the door without even knocking.
Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Each 10-megawatt reactor on a barge can power the equivalent of about 10,000 homes, can be moved via tugboats, and can be stacked alongside each other for extra power generation. Jordan Blum, Fortune, 29 Aug. 2026 The barge could also support energy-intensive processes such as desalination and the production of low-carbon fuels. Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 29 Aug. 2026
Verb
There were rocky caves along the steep walls of the nullah, and thickets that even a buffalo would have trouble barging through. Leslie E. Tassell, Outdoor Life, 27 Aug. 2026 As enemies barge into an upper floor of a building, Duval, who is a security detail for the mission, takes them on by hiding behind cover and shooting at them. Jay Peters, The Verge, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for barge

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin barca

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1600, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of barge was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Barge.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/barge. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Kids Definition

: a broad flat-bottomed boat that is usually towed and used chiefly to transport goods in harbors and on rivers and canals

barge

2 of 2 verb
barged; barging
1
: to carry by barge
2
: to move or push oneself clumsily or rudely
barged right in

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