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Definition of oar

oar

/ɔːr/
oar
Plural:oars
•
Past Simple:oared
•
Past Participle:oared
•
Present Participle:oaring
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oar Lexical Profile

oar Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A pole with a flat blade, used to row or steer a boat through the water.

Example

"He pulled hard on the right oar to turn the small wooden rowboat toward the dock."

2

A person who rows a boat, especially as a member of a racing crew.

Example

"She is widely considered the finest oar in the university's esteemed boat club."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for oar

• verb

1

To row or propel a boat using oars.

Example

"The fishermen slowly oared their way across the misty lake just before sunrise."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for oar

Word Nuance & Usage

"Oar" is frequently confused with its homophones "ore" (a naturally occurring mineral or rock) and "or" (a conjunction).

• Rhymes for oar

• Nearby Words

oakleaf
oakwood
oaky
oar
oared
oarfish
oarsman

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'ār', of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse 'ár' and ultimately deriving from a Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'to row'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Oar. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/oar
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