Word
boast
Meanings
to talk with too much pride about your achievements, abilities, or possessions
a proud statement that describes your achievements, abilities, or possessions, often in an annoying way
Definition
A boast is a proud statement about your own achievements or abilities.
A boast is something you say that highlights your achievements, possessions, or abilities, often in a way that sounds too proud. It can be meant to impress others, but it may also be seen as arrogant. As a verb, to boast means to talk with excessive pride about what you have done or what you own.
Examples
- I didn’t mean to boast, but I’m proud of how the team handled the crisis.
- You can boast about your marathon time after you’ve helped the rest of the group finish the route.
- He tends to boast whenever the conversation turns to promotions and awards.
- She brushed off his boast with a polite smile and changed the subject to the project.
- They rarely boast, yet their results speak loudly in every competition.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse "boast" with "boost" (increase), but "boast" means to speak with pride about yourself or your achievements.
More at C1 level
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- conundrum A conundrum is a confusing and difficult problem to solve.
- pretentious Trying to seem more important, intelligent, or cultured than you really are.
More verbs
- analyze To examine something carefully in order to understand it or explain it.
- scrutinize To scrutinize something is to examine it very carefully and in detail.
- affect To affect something is to influence it or cause it to change.
- allude To allude means to mention or suggest something indirectly without saying it clearly.
- elude To elude someone or something is to avoid being caught, understood, or remembered.