boy

noun

ˈbȯi How to pronounce boy (audio)
Definition of boynext
1
as in kid
a male person who has not yet reached adulthood a giggling little boy ran by

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in boyfriend
a male romantic companion their teenaged daughter has a new boy, and she's just crazy about him

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of boy Eala would often partner with him against boys his age, frequently facing the brunt of the action. — Albert Samaha, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026 El-Sayed did not condemn the bully-boy tactics used on his behalf. — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026 In the 1993 family comedy Rookie of the Year, a young boy named Henry (Thomas Ian Nicholas) breaks his arm during a little league game. — Keith Langston, PEOPLE, 28 Aug. 2026 More than 10,000 people, including many children, died during the two-year siege of Sarajevo and more than 7,000 Muslims, mostly men and boys were slaughtered within a few days in Srebrenica in July 1995. — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for boy
Recent Examples of Synonyms for boy
  1. kid
  2. boyfriend
  3. teenager
  4. beau
  5. lad
  6. adolescent
  7. toddler
Noun
  • Davis, his wife and kids painted the picture of a family that had deep, meaningful connections to the heartbeat of this burgeoning southern metropolis in NASCAR country that, like so many cities, places its sports stars on a pedestal.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • My kids loved Sakura, which takes a similarly hopscotching approach to Asia, mixing together Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese, and Malaysian on its menu.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of kid
Noun
  • She was accompanied by her younger son, Kash, 14, and current boyfriend Kyle Mowitz, who is in asset management.
    — Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The editors then serve up a tasty treat of a bunch of photos with Emily smack dab in the center, and cycle through them more quickly than Jenn’s boyfriend Ryan cycles through loud denim jackets.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of boyfriend
Noun
  • Other areas of concern are the library system's self-check-out kiosks, instances in which minor teenagers handle materials while working or volunteering at a branch, and platforms for loaning electronic materials, Adams said.
    — Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Online, 28 Aug. 2026
  • From the moment Billie learns about Sophie-Rose, the teenager who inherited her legendary fake ID after it was already passed down to multiple other Gen-Z blondes, she’s obsessed.
    — Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of teenager
Noun
  • As bald eagle fans around the world mourn the death of Jackie, her longtime mate Shadow has been spotted with a possible new beau in Southern California.
    — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 16 Aug. 2026
  • Sara Howe, a carriage driving trainer who often sees Louise and her beau at competitions, told Hello!
    — Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of beau
Noun
  • Kyle Walker and even some of the foreign lads were taking the p***.
    — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026
  • The bit culminates with a real working-class lad recognizing her from the piece, only to offer his assessment that the magazine was better when Graydon Carter was in charge.
    — Maxwell Adler, Vanity Fair, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of lad
Noun
  • One adolescent possibly had contact with the bat, officials said.
    — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • YouTube comedian Bo Burnham directs this empathetic portrait of Kayla (Elsie Fisher), an insecure adolescent who posts motivational vlogs on YouTube while privately struggling with her self-image and burgeoning sexuality.
    — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026
Definition of adolescent
Noun
  • In the distance, a toddler in a matching Nike outfit literally leaped into the arms of a crying woman, perhaps a grandmother, squeezing tightly for a hug.
    — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The boy and his grandmother’s identities have not been shared publicly at this time, but it was disclosed that the toddler would have turned 2 next week.
    — Latoya Gayle, PEOPLE, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of toddler

Phrases Containing boy

Browse Nearby Words

boxy
boy
boychick
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Boy.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/boy. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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