bowl

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈbōl 

plural bowls

1

: a concave usually nearly hemispherical vessel : a rounded container that is usually larger than a cup

a soup bowl

a set of mixing bowls

specifically : a drinking vessel (as for wine)

2

: the contents of a bowl

ate a bowl of rice

3

: a bowl-shaped or concave part: such as

a

: the hollow of a spoon or tobacco pipe

b

: the receptacle of a toilet

cleaning toilet bowls

4

a

: a natural formation or geographical region shaped like a bowl

b

: a bowl-shaped structure

especially : an athletic stadium

5

football : a postseason game between specially invited teams

college bowl games

bowled

ˈbōld 

adjective

bowlful

ˈbōl-ˌfu̇l 

noun

bowl

2 of 3

noun (2)

plural bowls

1

a

: a ball that is used in lawn bowling and that is shaped with a bias (see bias entry 1 sense 3a) so that it swerves when rolled

Note: Bowls were formerly made of lignum vitae with weights added to produce a bias, but are now composed of hard, dense plastic.

b

bowls plural in form but singular in construction : lawn bowling

playing bowls

2

: a delivery of the ball in the game of bowling

3

: a cylindrical roller or drum (as for a machine)

bowl

3 of 3

verb

bowled; bowling; bowls

intransitive verb

1

a

: to participate in a game of bowling

bowls every Thursday night

b

: to roll a ball in bowling

your turn to bowl

2

: to travel smoothly and rapidly (as in a wheeled vehicle)

transitive verb

1

a

: to roll (a ball) in bowling

b(1)

: to complete by bowling

bowl a spare

(2)

: to score by bowling

bowls 150

2

: to strike with a swiftly moving object

being bowled over by a base runner

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• circus
• coliseum
• colosseum
• stadium

Verb

• breeze
• brush
• coast
• cruise
• drift
• flow
• glide
• roll
• sail
• skim
• slide
• slip
• stream
• sweep
• whisk

Examples of bowl in a Sentence

Noun (1)

a new bowl for the football team

Verb

I don't think I can bowl a 12-pound ball.

We bowl every Thursday night.

Do you like to bowl?

I haven't bowled since I was a kid.

She usually bowls around 150.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

For example, try adding a handful of chips to a bowl instead of eating them directly from the bag. —Kumkum S. Patel, Verywell Health, 22 May 2025

The bib is adjustable and features a catch-all pocket, while the suction base of the bowl and plate ensures stability during use. —Toby Rose, Parents, 22 May 2025

Verb

Are torpedo bats — the relatively new bats that are shaped like a bowling pin to help players hit the sweet spot — good or bad for baseball? —Michael S. Schmidt, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2025

Several of his regulars he’s seen get married, start families over the years and return with children of their own to bowl and laugh and make memories. —Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 30 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English bolle, from Old English bolla; akin to Old High German bolla blister

Noun (2) and Verb

Middle English boule, from Middle French, from Latin bulla bubble

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Phrases Containing bowl

• bowl over
• dust bowl
• finger bowl
• goldfish bowl
• grain bowl
• mixing bowl
• punch bowl
• slop bowl
• wassail bowl

Rhymes for bowl

• boal
• bole
• coal
• droll
• foal
• goal
• hole
• knoll
• kol
• mole
• noll
• nolle

Kids Definition

bowl

1 of 3 noun

ˈbōl 

1

: a rounded dish generally deeper than a basin and larger than a cup

2

: the contents of a bowl

3

: the bowl-shaped part of something (as a spoon)

4

a

: a rounded valley or geographical region

the dust bowl

b

: a bowl-shaped stadium or theater

5

: bowl game

bowled

ˈbōld 

adjective

bowl

2 of 3 noun

1

a

: a ball shaped to roll in a curved path for use in lawn bowling

b

plural : lawn bowling

2

: a cast of the ball in bowling or bowls

bowl

3 of 3 verb

1

: to roll a ball in bowling or bowls

2

: to move smoothly and rapidly

Etymology

Noun

Old English bolla "bowl"

Noun

Middle English boule "a weighted ball," from early French boule (same meaning), from Latin bulla "bubble" — related to boil entry 2