Meaning & use

paddle

noun·Everyday

A short pole with a wide, flat blade used to propel and steer a small boat.

See it in a sentence

She dipped the paddle into the water and turned the canoe toward the shore.

The children spent the afternoon paddling in the shallow end of the lake.

A note on using this word

As a verb, "paddle" also means to walk or splash barefoot in shallow water, especially for children.

Words with a similar meaning

oar

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Another way to use it

2. verb

To move a boat through water using a paddle, or to swim gently using the hands and feet.

They paddled the kayak steadily upstream against the current.

Make it your own

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