portage

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable or uncountable

   The act of carrying boats and supplies over land between two bodies of water, or the route used for this.

   Grammar: Countable when referring to a specific route or instance; uncountable when referring to the activity in general.

   Patterns

   • a portage between something
   • do a portage

   We had to make a portage around the rapids.

   The map showed a short portage between the two lakes.

   Portage is a common part of canoe trips in the Boundary Waters.

2. 2verbtransitive or intransitive

   To carry a boat or supplies over land between waterways.

   Grammar: Can be used with an object (portage the canoe) or without (we portaged for an hour).

   Patterns

   • portage a canoe
   • portage across something

   They portaged their canoes across the narrow strip of land.

   We portaged for two hours before reaching the next river.

   The group decided to portage rather than risk the rough water.

Word forms

Common combinations

make a portage

We had to make a portage because the river was too shallow.

portage route

The portage route was marked with signs.

portage trail

The portage trail was muddy after the rain.

portage around

They portaged around the dam.

Synonyms and how they differ

carry

Carry is a general verb for moving something while holding it; portage is specific to carrying boats or goods between waterways.

portaging

The -ing form used as a noun; it emphasizes the ongoing activity rather than a single instance.

Word family

portage noun

The act or route of carrying boats overland.

portage verb

To carry a boat or supplies overland.

Commonly confused: portage or portable? portage or portal?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “portage”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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