plural ships
often attributive
1
a
: a large seagoing vessel
b
: a sailing vessel having a bowsprit and usually three masts each composed of a lower mast, a topmast, and a topgallant mast
2
: boat
especially
: one propelled by power or sail
3
: a ship's crew
4
: fortune sense 2
when their ship comes in they'll be able to live in better style
5
see also take ship
shipped; shipping; ships
1
a
: to place or receive on board a ship for transportation by water
b
: to cause to be transported
shipped him off to prep school
2
obsolete
: to provide with a ship
3
: to put in place for use
ship the tiller
4
: to take into a ship or boat
ship the gangplank
5
: to engage for service on a ship
6
: to take (water) over the side
—used of a boat or a ship
1
: to embark on a ship
2
a
: to go or travel by ship
—often used with out
b
: to proceed by ship or other means under military orders
—often used with out
3
: to engage to serve on shipboard
4
: to be sent for delivery
the order will ship soon
shipped; shipping; ships
informal
: to wishfully regard (specific people or fictional characters) as being or having the potential to become romantically involved with one another
Naturally, their followers gushed … and started shipping them all over again. "Please be back together," one user commented …—
Alyssa Morin
Alyssa MorinThe Office's on-and-off pairing remained so tantalizingly close after the series wrapped in 2013 that even [Mindy] Kaling gets why people are still shipping them.—Sarah Grossbart
Sarah GrossbartSean Astin, who portrayed Bob Newby, the love interest of Ryder's character, Joyce Byers, in season 2, told Us Weekly exclusively earlier this month that he hopes Jim and Joyce will end up together. "I've shipped them since the beginning," the 49-year-old declared.—Samantha Leffler
Samantha LefflerOne close friendship does develop between two girls, and while fans of other Dreamworks shows like She-Ra and the Princesses of Power may start shipping them, budding romance at this point is only wishful thinking.—Alana Joli Abbott
Alana Joli AbbottHow does one even begin to write about Anne and Diana? … Megan Followes herself ships them.—Danny M. Lavery
Danny M. Lavery1
: state : condition : quality
friendship
2
: office : dignity : profession
clerkship
3
: art : skill
horsemanship
4
: something showing, exhibiting, or embodying a quality or state
township
fellowship
5
: one entitled to a (specified) rank, title, or appellation
his Lordship
6
: the body of persons participating in a specified activity
readership
listenership
Synonyms
Examples of ship in a Sentence
Noun
the captain of the ship
He will travel by ship.
Verb (1)
The goods were shipped from a foreign port.
Your order is expected to ship soon.
The company will ship its new software next month.
The software will ship next month.
The soldiers were shipped overseas for duty.
When the waves increased, the boat began shipping water.
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Recent Examples on the WebNBC News, 24 Nov. 2023
For Black Friday, enjoy 60% off and the first box ships free.
—Donna Kim, Bon Appétit, 23 Nov. 2023
An agreement facilitated by the U.S. and Soviet Union resolved the conflict, but the canal remained closed until 1957 due to sunken ships.
—Maeghan Dolph, Fox News, 22 Nov. 2023
The community can buy gifts from the Amazon wish list and ship directly to Promises2Kid (9400 Ruffin Court, Suite A, San Diego, CA 92123).
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Nov. 2023
China also maintains a fleet of mobile space support ships that, according to the Pentagon, are used to track satellite and ICBM launches.
—Cate Cadell, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023
Something had gone wrong after the ship shut off its engines in preparation to coast.
—Marina Koren, The Atlantic, 18 Nov. 2023
But, faced with an unexpected low tide, the Marines were forced to abandon their ships offshore and wade toward the island — where they were gunned down by waiting Japanese snipers, leaving a jumble of floating bodies for their compatriots to navigate.
—Natasha Frost Maud Bodoukian Meyrant, New York Times, 18 Nov. 2023
But, Randolph says, according to the ship’s manifest, a fortune of treasure onboard has never been found.
—Jay O'Brien, ABC News, 11 Nov. 2023
Jennifer Ouellette and Sean M. Carroll, Ars Technica, 24 Nov. 2023
This assessment emboldened Khrushchev to ship intermediate range missiles to Cuba, bringing the world to the brink of nuclear war.
—WSJ, 23 Nov. 2023
He was shipped to Aqueduct in June after finishing 12th in the Wolferton Stakes at Ascot.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Nov. 2023
And with the exception of some ground beef, sausages and larger roasts, meats are shipped fresh and never frozen.
—Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 22 Nov. 2023
Many companies ship gift baskets only on certain days at the beginning of the week, so that there’s less of a chance of a weekend delay.
—Moriah Mason, Southern Living, 21 Nov. 2023
In many cases, shipping alone often costs more than the items can be resold for.
—Heather Hoover-Salomon, Fortune, 17 Nov. 2023
In place of anything as dull as a white plinth to display the objects, they’re positioned on reclaimed packing crates, in a nod to the customs house they’re housed in; once upon a time, its rooms would have held Scottish goods ready to be shipped around the world from the nearby port.
—Liam Hess, Vogue, 16 Nov. 2023
El Chapo famously attempted to ship half a million dollars’ worth of cocaine into the United States from Mexico packed in jalapeño cans.
—Deborah Bonello, Los Angeles Times, 14 Nov. 2023
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Noun
Meagan Fitzgerald As the war between Israel and Hamas continues, Yemen’s Houthi rebels hijacked a ship in the Red Sea and took dozens of people hostage.
—NBC News, 24 Nov. 2023
For Black Friday, enjoy 60% off and the first box ships free.
—Donna Kim, Bon Appétit, 23 Nov. 2023
An agreement facilitated by the U.S. and Soviet Union resolved the conflict, but the canal remained closed until 1957 due to sunken ships.
—Maeghan Dolph, Fox News, 22 Nov. 2023
The community can buy gifts from the Amazon wish list and ship directly to Promises2Kid (9400 Ruffin Court, Suite A, San Diego, CA 92123).
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Nov. 2023
China also maintains a fleet of mobile space support ships that, according to the Pentagon, are used to track satellite and ICBM launches.
—Cate Cadell, Washington Post, 21 Nov. 2023
Something had gone wrong after the ship shut off its engines in preparation to coast.
—Marina Koren, The Atlantic, 18 Nov. 2023
But, faced with an unexpected low tide, the Marines were forced to abandon their ships offshore and wade toward the island — where they were gunned down by waiting Japanese snipers, leaving a jumble of floating bodies for their compatriots to navigate.
—Natasha Frost Maud Bodoukian Meyrant, New York Times, 18 Nov. 2023
But, Randolph says, according to the ship’s manifest, a fortune of treasure onboard has never been found.
—Jay O'Brien, ABC News, 11 Nov. 2023
Verb
If that happens, Ted's father will ship him off to a military academy, thus breaking up their band, Wyld Stallyns.
—Jennifer Ouellette and Sean M. Carroll, Ars Technica, 24 Nov. 2023
This assessment emboldened Khrushchev to ship intermediate range missiles to Cuba, bringing the world to the brink of nuclear war.
—WSJ, 23 Nov. 2023
He was shipped to Aqueduct in June after finishing 12th in the Wolferton Stakes at Ascot.
—Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Nov. 2023
And with the exception of some ground beef, sausages and larger roasts, meats are shipped fresh and never frozen.
—Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 22 Nov. 2023
Many companies ship gift baskets only on certain days at the beginning of the week, so that there’s less of a chance of a weekend delay.
—Moriah Mason, Southern Living, 21 Nov. 2023
In many cases, shipping alone often costs more than the items can be resold for.
—Heather Hoover-Salomon, Fortune, 17 Nov. 2023
In place of anything as dull as a white plinth to display the objects, they’re positioned on reclaimed packing crates, in a nod to the customs house they’re housed in; once upon a time, its rooms would have held Scottish goods ready to be shipped around the world from the nearby port.
—Liam Hess, Vogue, 16 Nov. 2023
El Chapo famously attempted to ship half a million dollars’ worth of cocaine into the United States from Mexico packed in jalapeño cans.
—Deborah Bonello, Los Angeles Times, 14 Nov. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ship.' 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
Noun
Middle English, from Old English scip; akin to Old High German skif ship
Verb (2)
verbal derivative of ship "romantic pairing of a fictional couple," shortened from relationship
Noun suffix
Middle English, from Old English -scipe; akin to Old High German -scaft -ship, Old English scieppan to shape — more at shape
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb (1)
14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Verb (2)
1998, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of ship was
before the 12th century
Phrases Containing ship
Dictionary Entries Near ship
Cite this Entry
“Ship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ship. Accessed 29 Nov. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
ship
1 of 3 nounship
2 of 3 verb
shipped; shipping
1
a
: to place or receive on board a ship for transportation by water
b
: to cause to be transported
had her boxes shipped home
2
: to take into a ship or boat
ship oars
3
: to sign on as a crew member of a ship
4
: to take in (as water) over the side
-ship
3 of 3 noun suffixˌship
1
: state : condition : quality
friendship
apprenticeship
2
: position : office : duties
professorship
3
: art : skill : activity
horsemanship
penmanship
4
: one having or entitled to be called by a (specified) title
his Lordship
her Ladyship
5
: the whole body of persons included in a class
a large readership
Etymology
Noun suffix
Old English -scipe "condition, something having a certain quality"
More from Merriam-Webster on ship
Nglish: Translation of ship for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of ship for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ship
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