What does boasting mean?
Boasting is the act of speaking about oneself, one's achievements, or one's possessions with excessive pride. It is the gerund and present-participle form of the verb "boast," and it almost always carries a negative connotation: to accuse someone of boasting is to suggest they are vain, immodest, or exaggerating. The word appears frequently in moral and literary contexts, where self-promotion is contrasted with humility, and phrases like "empty boasting" emphasize talk that is not backed up by real accomplishment. In everyday usage, boasting ranges from mild social irritation — a colleague who will not stop mentioning a new car — to more serious criticism of public figures who inflate their records. Because most cultures value modesty, boasting is generally discouraged in polite conversation, making the word useful for describing and gently criticizing self-aggrandizing speech.
The action or habit of talking with excessive pride about oneself or one's achievements.
"Her boasting at the party alienated several old friends."
Used chiefly as a mass noun; it rarely takes a plural in ordinary usage.
Present participle of "boast": to speak with exaggerated pride about oneself, something one owns, or something one has done.
"He was boasting again about how cheaply he had bought the house."
Also used transitively in a neutral sense meaning "to possess proudly," as in "the hotel boasts three restaurants."
A plural form exists grammatically but is rare; "boasting" is normally treated as uncountable.
"His boastings were recorded in the margins of the manuscript."
English has been embarrassed by its boasters for over 700 years — yet no one is quite sure where the word "boast" originally came from.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of boasting
The word traces back to the verb "boast," which appeared in Middle English around the 14th century. Its ultimate origin is uncertain; scholars have proposed connections to Old Norse but no derivation is firmly established. The noun form "boasting" developed naturally as the gerund and verbal noun of that verb, and the adjective "boastful" followed later.
Related word forms
How boasting is actually used
Almost always carries a negative connotation; it implies the speaker is immodest or exaggerating, and it is disapproved of in most English-speaking cultures. It functions as both a gerund and a present participle of the verb "boast."
Easily confused with boasting
"Boast" is the base verb or a single instance of proud talk, while "boasting" is the ongoing act or gerund form of that behavior.
"Boosting" means raising, increasing, or improving something, whereas "boasting" refers to speaking proudly of oneself.