# steamboat

/ˈstimˌboʊt/ (US) · /stˈiːmbəʊt/ (UK) · CEFR B1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/steamboat
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

a large boat or ship that moves using steam power. These were very common in the 1800s for carrying people and goods along rivers.

For teachers: a vessel propelled by a steam engine, typically used for river transport during the nineteenth century.

## Examples

- The steamboat traveled slowly down the wide river.
- During the mid-1800s, the steamboat was the primary method for transporting cotton and passengers along the Mississippi River.
- The introduction of the steamboat revolutionized inland commerce by allowing vessels to travel against the current, a feat previously impossible for wind-dependent or human-powered craft.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.