noun
wagon
WA-guhn
noun
1
A four-wheeled vehicle used for carrying heavy loads, historically pulled by horses.
"Settlers crossed the plains in covered wagons."
verb
1
To transport something by wagon.
"They wagoned the grain into town to sell at market."
How to Use Wagon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA cart or vehicle for hauling loads, often used historically or in the phrase "on the wagon" (abstaining from alcohol).
Memory tip
"On the wagon" means someone has stopped drinking alcohol; "off the wagon" means they've started again.
Trace the full origin ↓
Common pairings
covered wagon
on the wagon
station wagon
Word Forms
wagoned past tense, wagonned past tense, wagons singular
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Settlers crossed the plains in covered _____.
Etymology
From Middle Dutch "wagen", tracing back to a Proto-Indo-European root meaning "to carry" or "to transport" — the same root behind "way" and "weigh".