Search Dictionary
Definition of oar
oar
/ɔːr/
oar
Plural:oars
•Past Simple:oared
•Past Participle:oared
•Present Participle:oaring
oar Lexical Profile
CEFR
B1
Grade
4
Tier
1
Usage
Top 5k
oar Game Scores & Validity
Scrabble US
Scrabble UK
WWF
Wordle Guess
• 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 oarWord Nuance & Usage
"Oar" is frequently confused with its homophones "ore" (a naturally occurring mineral or rock) and "or" (a conjunction).
• Rhymes for oar
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'.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Oar. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 12, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/oar