1
: an intermediate support for the adjacent ends of two bridge spans
2
: a structure (such as a breakwater) extending into navigable water for use as a landing place or promenade or to protect or form a harbor
3
4
: a structural mount (as for a telescope) usually of stonework, concrete, or steel
Examples of pier in a Sentence
tied the boat up at the pier
Recent Examples on the Web
On March 25, one ship appeared to abandon its effort to dock at the pier where two other ships were already berthed.
—
Chris Buckley, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2025
As a teenager, Ellen Dare Burling had an unusual summer job: Jumping off a moving ferryboat onto wooden piers, her arms filled with letters and packages destined for summer residents in their southern Wisconsin lake houses.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2025
The casual restaurant that sits above the water at the shore end of the pier opened in 1983, with a sister location on the north side launching later.
—Leslie Kelly, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
The location: Lamma Island is a 25-minute ferry ride from Hong Kong Island — just head to the Central Ferry Piers and look for pier 4 (make sure to take the ferry to Yung Shue Wan).
—Abid Rahman, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pier
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Chris Buckley, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2025
As a teenager, Ellen Dare Burling had an unusual summer job: Jumping off a moving ferryboat onto wooden piers, her arms filled with letters and packages destined for summer residents in their southern Wisconsin lake houses.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2025
The casual restaurant that sits above the water at the shore end of the pier opened in 1983, with a sister location on the north side launching later.
—Leslie Kelly, Forbes, 24 Mar. 2025
The location: Lamma Island is a 25-minute ferry ride from Hong Kong Island — just head to the Central Ferry Piers and look for pier 4 (make sure to take the ferry to Yung Shue Wan).
—Abid Rahman, The Hollywood Reporter, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pier
Cite this Entry
“Pier.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pier. Accessed 10 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pier
noun1
: a support for a bridge
2
: a structure built out into the water for use as a landing place or walk or to protect or form a harbor
3
: an upright supporting part (as a pillar or buttress) of a building or structure
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share