boast

UK: /ˈbəʊst/ US: /boʊst/ ,(bōst)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

boast¹ /boʊst/   v. 

1. to speak (of someone or something) with exaggeration and too much pride, esp. about oneself: [no object]
   He was always boasting.
   [~ + of/about + object]
   boasting about his law school.
   [~ + that clause]
   boasted that he had won every track award in school.
2. [~ + object] to be proud to own or have;
   be lucky to possess:
   The town boasts two new schools.

n. [countable]

3. a thing boasted of;
   a cause for pride:
   It was my boast that I never missed a day of work.
4. instances of exaggerated speech or bragging:
   empty boasts.

boast•er, n. [countable]
boast•ful, adj. 
boast•ful•ly, adv. 
boast•ful•ness, n. [uncountable]
boast•ing•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

boast¹  (bōst), v.i. 

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

v.t. 

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

n. 

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

• Middle English bost (noun, nominal), bosten (verb, verbal), of uncertain origin, originally 1250–1300

boast′ing•ly, adv. 
boast′less, adj. 
Synonyms

• 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.

boast²  (bōst), v.t. [Masonry.]

1. Building to dress or shape (stone) roughly.

• of uncertain origin, originally 1815–25

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

boast / bəʊst/ verb

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

noun

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

Etymology: 13th Century: of uncertain origin

ˈboaster noun

ˈboasting noun , adjective