# stern

/ˈstɝn/ (US) · /stˈɜːn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/stern
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 2. back of a ship

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

the back part of a ship or boat.

For teachers: the rear or aftermost part of a ship or vessel.

- The name of the boat was painted in bright white letters on the stern.
- As the ferry pulled away from the dock, the passengers gathered at the stern to watch the city skyline recede into the distance.

Usage: Commonly used in nautical contexts as the opposite of the 'bow'.

### 3. to move backward

verb · CEFR C2 · Technical

to move a boat backward through the water.

For teachers: to propel or move a vessel backward or stern-first.

- The rowers had to stern the boat carefully to avoid hitting the dock.
- The captain ordered the crew to stern the vessel into the narrow slip, a maneuver requiring precise coordination in the heavy current.

Usage: Usually used as an intransitive verb in rowing or sailing.

Teaching tip: This is a very specialized nautical term; most learners will only need the adjective or noun senses.

## Examples

- The teacher gave the students a stern look.
- The manager issued a stern warning to the staff about arriving late for their shifts.
- Despite his reputation for being a stern disciplinarian, the judge was known to show occasional flashes of dry humor during particularly long trials.

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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.