: a light narrow boat that has both ends tapered to a point, is propelled by a double-bladed paddle, and often has a closed top except for an opening in which the paddler sits with the legs extended straight out in front:
a
: a traditional boat that is typically associated with the Indigenous peoples (such as the Aleuts and Inuits) of Alaska, Canada, and Greenland, is usually made of a frame of wood or bone covered with animal skin, and is used especially for hunting and transport
Similar stone pillars guided Inuit seafarers traveling by umiak or kayak along the complex coasts of their realm.—
Fred Bruemmer
Fred Bruemmer
b
: a boat that is based on the traditional kayak and is typically made of plastic or fiberglass and is used especially for recreational purposes
Today's recreationists likewise have discovered that, among paddle-powered boats, the kayak has no equal for its graceful combination of lightness, portability, seaworthiness and speed.—Peter Stark
Peter StarkExamples of kayak in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The company offered two-hour sessions with elephants that included activities ranging from cooking classes to kayak sessions.
—Andrea Margolis, Fox News, 6 Jan. 2025
Take a kayak trip to the island’s many disparate aquatic ecosystems from salt marshes to the intracoastal waterway.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 6 Jan. 2025
Use it as a traditional SUP or even a kayak for tons of fun without having to mess too much with convertible parts.
—Taylor Fox, Travel + Leisure, 28 Dec. 2024
Plus, the island is renowned for its bioluminescent bay, and the waning moon on the night of the event creates perfect conditions for the nighttime kayak tour.
—Discover Puerto Rico, AFAR Media, 20 Dec. 2024
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Andrea Margolis, Fox News, 6 Jan. 2025
Take a kayak trip to the island’s many disparate aquatic ecosystems from salt marshes to the intracoastal waterway.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 6 Jan. 2025
Use it as a traditional SUP or even a kayak for tons of fun without having to mess too much with convertible parts.
—Taylor Fox, Travel + Leisure, 28 Dec. 2024
Plus, the island is renowned for its bioluminescent bay, and the waning moon on the night of the event creates perfect conditions for the nighttime kayak tour.
—Discover Puerto Rico, AFAR Media, 20 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for kayak
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Cite this Entry
“Kayak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kayak. Accessed 18 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
kayak
noun
kay·ak
ˈkī-ˌak 
1
: a canoe used by various Indigenous peoples of northern North America, Greenland, and eastern Siberia and made of a frame covered with skins except for a small opening in the center
2
: a small canoe resembling a kayak
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