berth

1 of 2

noun

1
a
nautical : sufficient distance for maneuvering a ship
Keep a clear berth of the shoals.
b
: an amount of distance maintained for safety
give the fire a wide berth
giving him a wide berth until he is in a better mood
2
a
: the place where a ship lies when at anchor or at a wharf
was docked at her usual berth
b
: a space for an automotive vehicle at rest
a truck-loading berth
3
: a place to sit or sleep especially on a ship or vehicle : accommodation
a comfortable cabin with a deep berth
an upper berth
4
a
: a billet (see billet entry 1 sense 2a) on a ship
waiting for a berth as a ship's surgeonBernard Keelan
b
: job, position, place
a starting berth on the team

berth

2 of 2

verb

berthed; berthing; berths

transitive verb

1
: to bring (something, such as a ship or automotive vehicle) into a berth
The ship was berthed at this pier.
2
: to allot quarters or accommodations to : to allot a berth to
a place to berth the crew

intransitive verb

: to come into a berth
where the ship typically berths

Examples of berth in a Sentence

Noun a comfortable cabin with a deep berth He has a starting berth on the all-star team. Verb The ship was berthed at this pier. The ship berthed at this pier.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The Kings clinched a playoff berth more than a week ago. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2024 Ahead of the Gaels’ third consecutive NCAA Tournament berth last month, Bennett and several Gaels players emphasized the culture at Saint Mary’s as one bucking against the transfer portal era of college athletics. Michael Nowels, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024 See all Example Sentences for berth 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'berth.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English birth, probably from beren to bear + -th

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1667, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of berth was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near berth

Cite this Entry

“Berth.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/berth. Accessed 3 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

berth

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: enough room to maneuver a ship
b
: a safe distance
give it wide berth
2
: a place where a ship lies at anchor or at a wharf
3
: a place to sleep on a ship or train
4

berth

2 of 2 verb
: to bring or come into a berth

More from Merriam-Webster on berth

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