porter

1 of 3

noun (1)

por·​ter ˈpȯr-tər How to pronounce porter (audio)
plural porters
chiefly British
: a person stationed at a door or gate to admit or assist those entering

porter

2 of 3

noun (2)

plural porters
1
: a person who carries burdens
especially : one employed to carry baggage for patrons at a hotel or transportation terminal
2
: a parlor-car or sleeping-car attendant who waits on passengers and makes up berths
3
[short for porter's beer] : a heavy dark brown ale typically brewed from browned or charred malt
4
: a person who does routine cleaning (as in a hospital or office)

porter

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verb

portered; portering; porters

transitive verb

: to transport or carry as or as if by a porter

intransitive verb

: to act as a porter

Examples of porter in a Sentence

Noun (1) he generously tipped the porter for hailing a taxi
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
In a train station, my father waits on the bench the porter shined in the wee hours of whatever day this is. Katie Peterson, The Atlantic, 30 Oct. 2024 Great Lakes Nosferatu: The Perfect Movie Companion Cleveland, Ohio based Great Lakes Brewing Co. is known for quality beers and one of the best porters (Edmund Fitzgerald, delicious!) available in the U.S. Em Sauter, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024
Verb
Sang Hnin Lian said Chin people have been used as human shields in war in the past, and forced to porter or guide the military. Helen Regan, CNN, 5 Mar. 2021 See all Example Sentences for porter 

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin portarius, from Latin porta gate — more at port

Noun (2)

Middle English portour, from Anglo-French porteour, from Late Latin portator, from Latin portare to carry — more at fare

First Known Use

Noun (1)

13th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1609, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of porter was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near porter

Cite this Entry

“Porter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/porter. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

porter

1 of 2 noun
por·​ter ˈpōrt-ər How to pronounce porter (audio)
ˈpȯrt-
chiefly British

porter

2 of 2 noun
1
: a person who carries baggage (as at a hotel)
2
: a railroad employee who waits on passengers
3
: a dark heavy ale

Biographical Definition

Porter 1 of 7

biographical name (1)

Por·​ter ˈpȯr-tər How to pronounce Porter (audio)
Cole Albert 1891–1964 American songwriter

Porter

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biographical name (2)

David 1780–1843 and his son David Dixon 1813–1891 American naval officers

Porter

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biographical name (3)

Eliot Furness 1901–1990 American photographer

Porter

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biographical name (4)

Gene 1868–1924 née Stratton American novelist

Porter

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biographical name (5)

Katherine Anne 1890–1980 American writer

Porter

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biographical name (6)

Noah 1811–1892 American philosopher and lexicographer

Porter

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biographical name (7)

William Sydney 1862–1910 pseudonym O. Henry (ˈ)ō-ˈhen-rē How to pronounce Porter (audio) American short-story writer

More from Merriam-Webster on porter

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