From Middle English bosten, from bost (“boast, glory, noise, arrogance, presumption, pride, vanity”), probably of North Germanic origin, ultimately from Proto-Germanic *bausuz (“inflated, swollen, puffed up, proud, arrogant, bad”).
Cognate with Scots bost, boist (“to threaten, brag, boast”), Anglo-Norman bost (“ostentation”) (from Germanic). Related to Norwegian baus (“proud, bold, daring”), dialectal German baustern (“to swell”), German böse (“evil, bad, angry”), Dutch boos (“evil, wicked, angry”), West Frisian boas (“bad, wicked, angry, shrewd, clever”). Compare also dialectal Norwegian bausta, busta (“to rush onward, make a noise”). Possible doublet of boost.
Compare typologically puffy, Russian напы́щенный (napýščennyj), наду́тый (nadútyj).
Meanings
(intransitive) To brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself.
On no account will he or any other kind be able to boast that he's escaped the pursuit of those who can follow so detailed and comprehensive a method of enquiry. 2005, Plato, translated by Lesley Brown, Sophist, page 235c:
(transitive) [with about or of] To speak of with pride, vanity, or exultation, with a view to self-commendation; to extol.
Lest bad men should boast / Their specious deeds. 1667, John Milton, “Book II”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
The dirty secret of the internet is that all this distraction and interruption is immensely profitable. Web companies like to boast about "creating compelling content", or offering services that let you "stay up to date with what your friends are doing",[…]and so on. But the real way to build a successful online business is to be better than your rivals at undermining people's control of their own attention. 2013 June 21, Oliver Burkeman, “The tao of tech”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 2, page 27:
(obsolete) To speak in exulting language of another; to glory; to exult.
In God we boast all the day long. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Psalms 44:8:
To play a boast shot.
(transitive) To possess (a special and desirable quality).
The hotel boasts one of the best views of the sea.
His family boasted a famous name.
Jinhua and others are spending big to get there. In Jinjiang, a city in Fujian Province once known as a shoe-manufacturing center, Jinhua’s new factory is almost finished. Rising five stories and stretching several football fields long, the structure boasts 100,000 square feet of new office space. 2018 June 22, Paul Mozur, “Inside a Heist of American Chip Designs, as China Bids for Tech Power”, in The New York Times, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 22 Jun 2018, Technology:
The Meinung, Kaoshu, Shalin, and Liukuei Hakka together comprised the army's "Right Unit," and it alone boasted some 3,200 fighting men. 1983, Burton Pasternak, “Lungtu Before the Japanese”, in Guests in the Dragon : Social Demography of a Chinese district, 1895-1946, Columbia University Press, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OCLC, page 20:
After dropping off travellers at Foregate Street, my train terminates at Shrub Hill - a station which boasts one of the best selection [sic] of semaphore signals left in the country. 2020 December 2, Paul Bigland, “My weirdest and wackiest Rover yet”, in Rail, page 67:
bg хва́ля се (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · es alardear de (2. transitive: to speak of with pride, vanity, or exultation, with a view to self-commendation) · pt vangloriar-se (2. transitive: to speak of with pride, vanity, or exultation, with a view to self-commendation) · sl hvaliti se (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · ang ġielpan (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · ca vanar-se (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · es vanagloriarse (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · pt gabar (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · es dragonear de (2. transitive: to speak of with pride, vanity, or exultation, with a view to self-commendation) · lt didžiuotis (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · es ostentar (2. transitive: to speak of with pride, vanity, or exultation, with a view to self-commendation) · nb skryte (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · da prale (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · el υπερηφανεύομαι (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · es pintearse (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · az lovğalanmaq (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · ru хвали́ться (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · oc se conflejar (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · mi whakanuka (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · tyz ảng (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · es fardar (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · uk хвали́тися (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · pl chwalić się (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · fi kerskua (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · my အကြွား (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · be пахваля́цца (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · hu henceg (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · tr iftihar etmek (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · cs chlubit se (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · th โม้ (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · lv plātīties (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · es gabarse de (2. transitive: to speak of with pride, vanity, or exultation, with a view to self-commendation) · ro a se lăuda (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · ko 뽐내다 (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · ca vantar-se (2. transitive: to speak of with pride, vanity, or exultation, with a view to self-commendation) · es ufanarse de (2. transitive: to speak of with pride, vanity, or exultation, with a view to self-commendation) · cmn 自誇 /自夸 (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · sk chvastať sa (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · lv dižoties (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · hu hetvenkedik (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · es gabarse (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · pt ostentar (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · es hacer alarde/ostentación de (2. transitive: to speak of with pride, vanity, or exultation, with a view to self-commendation) · bg похва́ля се (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · ee ƒo aɖegbe (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · ja 自慢する (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · nl opscheppen (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · ar تَبَاهَى (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · es pavonear(se) de (2. transitive: to speak of with pride, vanity, or exultation, with a view to self-commendation) · mi whakatāwāhi (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · es alardear (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · az maxtanmaq (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · es purear (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · pt exibir-se (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · ru хва́стать (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · it vantarsi (2. transitive: to speak of with pride, vanity, or exultation, with a view to self-commendation) · fi rehennellä (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · gl borrear (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · km អួត (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · fi lesottaa (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · grc καυχάομαι (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · ru хва́статься (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · ca vantar-se (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · gl gabar (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · sk vyťahovať sa (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · es presumir de (5. transitive: to possess something special) · cy brolio (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · el κομπάζω (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · cmn 自詡 /自诩 (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · de prahlen (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · be хіста́цца (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · es ufanarse (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · es vanagloriarse de (2. transitive: to speak of with pride, vanity, or exultation, with a view to self-commendation) · izh kiissellä (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · sh hvaliti se (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · be выхваля́цца (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · pl przechwalać się (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · km បង្អួត (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · hy գլուխ գովալ (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · hu felvág (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · vi khoác lác (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · ca presumir (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · es pintearse de (2. transitive: to speak of with pride, vanity, or exultation, with a view to self-commendation) · pt jactar-se (2. transitive: to speak of with pride, vanity, or exultation, with a view to self-commendation) · es hacer alarde/ostentación (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · th คุยโว (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · ota قبارمق (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · ota صاتمق (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · grc κομπάζω (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · cmn 吹牛 (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · lo ເວົ້າອາດ (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · fi kerskailla (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · he הִתְפָּאֵר (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · sq lëvdohem (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · ko 자만하다 (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · es cacarear (2. transitive: to speak of with pride, vanity, or exultation, with a view to self-commendation) · la glōriō (2. transitive: to speak of with pride, vanity, or exultation, with a view to self-commendation) · hu hivalkodik (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · tr övünmek (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · oc se vantar (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · sh хвалити се (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · lo ຄຸຍໂມ້ (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · hy պարծենալ (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · ru бахва́литься (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · lv lielīties (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · es chulearse de (2. transitive: to speak of with pride, vanity, or exultation, with a view to self-commendation) · es dragonear (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · tr böbürlenmek (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · sk chváliť sa (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · sv skrävla (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · sl bahati se (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · pl chlubić się (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · es chulearse (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · la vānitō (2. transitive: to speak of with pride, vanity, or exultation, with a view to self-commendation) · bg похва́лвам се (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · mi tamarahi (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · mi whakamānunu (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · ko 자랑하다 (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · sk pýšiť sa (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · et hooplema (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · es fanfarronear (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · my ဝါ (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · te గప్పాలు (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · sv skryta (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · th โอ้อวด (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · km បញ្ចើ (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · cs vychloubat se (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · hi डींग मारना (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · sga ar·báigi (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · be хвалі́цца (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · grc μεγαληγορέω (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · fr se vanter (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · de angeben (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · km បំផ្លើស (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · uk хизува́тися (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · es jactar (se de) (2. transitive: to speak of with pride, vanity, or exultation, with a view to self-commendation) · fi leuhkia (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · cy ymffrostio (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · es alabarse (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · eo fieri, fanfaroni (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · fr vanter (2. transitive: to speak of with pride, vanity, or exultation, with a view to self-commendation) · hu kérkedik (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · pt gabar-se (2. transitive: to speak of with pride, vanity, or exultation, with a view to self-commendation) · sk vychvaľovať sa (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · es fardar de (2. transitive: to speak of with pride, vanity, or exultation, with a view to self-commendation) · he התרברב (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · ceb hambug (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · es echarse flores (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · my ကြွား (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · oc se bragar (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · et kiitlema (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · fr se vanter (2. transitive: to speak of with pride, vanity, or exultation, with a view to self-commendation) · es ostentar (5. transitive: to possess something special) · hu dicsekszik (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · es fanfarronear de (2. transitive: to speak of with pride, vanity, or exultation, with a view to self-commendation) · et praalima (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · pt jactar (2. transitive: to speak of with pride, vanity, or exultation, with a view to self-commendation) · es purear de (2. transitive: to speak of with pride, vanity, or exultation, with a view to self-commendation) · uk хва́статися (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · es pavonear (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · mk се фали (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · ml വീമ്പടിക്കുക (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · my ဝင့် (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · la glorior (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · ca vantar (2. transitive: to speak of with pride, vanity, or exultation, with a view to self-commendation) · es alabarse de (2. transitive: to speak of with pride, vanity, or exultation, with a view to self-commendation) · it vantare (2. transitive: to speak of with pride, vanity, or exultation, with a view to self-commendation) · es jactarse (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · ja 力む (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · cs chválit se (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · lo ຄຸຍໂຕ (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · vi khoe khoang (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · hu nagyzol (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · pl szczycić się (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · cmn 吹噓 /吹嘘 (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · it vantarsi (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · sk vystatovať sa (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · gl chufar (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · az öyünmək (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself) · vi nói khoác (1. intransitive: to brag; to talk loudly in praise of oneself)