rafting

1 of 2
Synonyms of raftingnext

present participle of raft entry 2

: the act, sport, or pastime of traveling on a river or other body of water in a usually inflatable raft : the sport of rafting
But injuries can happen, just like with any other sport. For this reason, rafting might not be everyone's cup of tea …Aislinn Sarnacki
So maybe white-water rafting is not your ticket. Maybe you'd like some water sport that does not entail hurtling down an angry river at stomach-churning speeds.Michael D. Burke
A measure from Sen. Lawrence Childers … would provide immunity from lawsuits to outfitters of paddle sports—such as rafting and canoeing—because of "the inherent risks of paddle sport activities."Tim Hoover

Examples of rafting in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Guests have access to a vast network of solid rock trails for mountain biking that twist and turn through dry forest and a thermal canyon, and can spike their adrenaline by whitewater rafting on the Tenorio River. Catherine Garcia, TheWeek, 24 Aug. 2026 Gear the family up to tour the mountain trails with seasonal mountain bikes and e-bikes or for the thrill-seeking individuals in pursuit of adventure; choose from whitewater rafting, horseback riding, wildlife photographer tours and more. Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 The Glenwood Whitewater Activity Area has a standing river wave that draws kayakers and stand-up paddleboarders, and the river, which travels through dramatic Glenwood Canyon, is a top place for travelers interested in white-water rafting. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 20 Aug. 2026 The photos document some of Bullock's recent time with family and friends, including outdoor adventures, fishing and rafting. Sameen Chaudhry, USA Today, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rafting

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1697, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of rafting was in 1697

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

More from Merriam-Webster on rafting

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!