: a broad flight of steps that is situated on an Indian riverbank and that provides access to the water especially for bathing

Examples of ghat in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Everywhere people bathe along the river’s hundreds of ghats (stone steps), many hop bamboo-platformed ferry boats, prayers and music ring out from towns behind jute plantations. Alex Greggery, Robb Report, 7 Mar. 2024 The riverside cities have wide flights of steps, called ghats, leading into the water, often with netting or guardrails. New York Times, 23 Dec. 2019 Millions of pilgrims flock to its temples and ghats -- or riverbank -- every year. Helen Regan and Omar Khan, CNN, 20 May 2019 On the last day, Temsutula tweeted a photo—the ghat was spotless! Neha J Hiranandani, Quartz India, 16 Oct. 2019 Devout Hindus go there to die so that they can be cremated on the ghats or on floating rafts and have their ashes can be strewn on the water to free them from the cycle of death and rebirth. New York Times, 23 Dec. 2019 Varanasi has many steps, called ghats, leading down to the river Ganga. Neha J Hiranandani, Quartz India, 16 Oct. 2019 Prakash rows up and down the ghats every day in the hot sun to support his wife and three daughters. Helen Regan and Omar Khan, CNN, 20 May 2019 In the context of an emerging forest-vs-agriculture narrative in the western ghats, some forestry researchers feel strongly the need to remind people that coffee plantations may not be the problem. Nandita Jayaraj, Quartz India, 4 Sep. 2019

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ghat.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Hindi & Urdu ghāṭ, from Sanskrit ghaṭṭa

First Known Use

1783, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ghat was in 1783

Dictionary Entries Near ghat

Cite this Entry

“Ghat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ghat. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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