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
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
2
: a delivery of the ball in the game of bowling
3
: a cylindrical roller or drum (as for a machine)
bowled; bowling; bowls
1
2
: to travel smoothly and rapidly (as in a wheeled vehicle)
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
Examples of bowl in a Sentence
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
Lea Donenberg, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024
Think bowls stuffed full of organic leafy greens, buffalo burgers, mozzarella salads and pizzas.
—Claire Boobbyer, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Apr. 2024
Now visitors can pair sake flights from Virginia’s first sake brewery with noodles, dumplings and rice bowls.
—Shana Clarke, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
Alternatively, keep it plant-based and protein-packed by topping your bowl with a crispy, spiced tofu scramble, says Geiger.
—Audrey Bruno, SELF, 1 Apr. 2024
In a medium-size bowl mix red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon basil, oregano and pepper.
—Bethany Thayer, Detroit Free Press, 30 Mar. 2024
Drain the eggs immediately and transfer them to the bowl of ice water.
7.
—Liz Biro, The Indianapolis Star, 29 Mar. 2024
The restaurant was also using an unapproved household rice cooker, and bowls and plastic containers to scoop food.
—Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 29 Mar. 2024
The restaurant offers appetizers and rice bowls, too.
—Hanh Truong, Sacramento Bee, 25 Mar. 2024
Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2023
Jonas was joined by his brothers Nick, 31, and Kevin, 36, for the outing, marking their second game of lawn bowling at the venue in the past week.
—Becca Longmire, Peoplemag, 4 Mar. 2024
Benedicts, hearty skillet bowls with eggs and crispy breakfast potatoes, and steak-and-eggs recall classic diner fare with a more fashionable presentation.
—Rachel Bernhard, Journal Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2024
Boys bowling Oak Hills 2904, West Clermont 2897 Leaders: Iles (OH) 503, Goewey (WC) 491.
—Alex Harrison, The Enquirer, 23 Jan. 2024
The Centre Pompidou, Paris’ inside-out architectural marvel that’s home to the city’s prestigious modern and contemporary art museum, has bowled me over on every visit.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 31 Dec. 2023
Arrange croissants, and add egg mixture: Add egg mixture and 1 cup of the cheese to bowl with onion mixture, and stir to combine.
—Paige Grandjean, Southern Living, 11 Nov. 2023
Mookie Betts bowls during the 50/50 Foundation charity bowling event at Lucky Strike LA Live in Los Angeles on Feb. 3.Mat Hayward / Getty Images for Mookie Betts 5050 Foundation
The 31-year-old says some of his baseball success can be traced to time spent in bowling alleys.
—Morgan Chesky, NBC News, 24 Feb. 2024
In trying to display his everyman side, Bush went bowling — and took a tumble in the lanes.
—Chris Foran, Journal Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2024
Noun
While Fanning was an adorable tot in a Tide detergent ad, in Ireland Scott landed the role of a lad enjoying a bowl of Flahavan’s porridge.
—Lea Donenberg, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2024
Think bowls stuffed full of organic leafy greens, buffalo burgers, mozzarella salads and pizzas.
—Claire Boobbyer, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Apr. 2024
Now visitors can pair sake flights from Virginia’s first sake brewery with noodles, dumplings and rice bowls.
—Shana Clarke, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2024
Alternatively, keep it plant-based and protein-packed by topping your bowl with a crispy, spiced tofu scramble, says Geiger.
—Audrey Bruno, SELF, 1 Apr. 2024
In a medium-size bowl mix red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, 1 tablespoon basil, oregano and pepper.
—Bethany Thayer, Detroit Free Press, 30 Mar. 2024
Drain the eggs immediately and transfer them to the bowl of ice water.
7.
—Liz Biro, The Indianapolis Star, 29 Mar. 2024
The restaurant was also using an unapproved household rice cooker, and bowls and plastic containers to scoop food.
—Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 29 Mar. 2024
The restaurant offers appetizers and rice bowls, too.
—Hanh Truong, Sacramento Bee, 25 Mar. 2024
Verb
Pecking order: After the New Year’s Six slots are filled, the Holiday Bowl gets the third pick after the Alamo and Las Vegas bowls in the Pac-12 (note that in even years, the Holiday picks after the Alamo Bowl and before the Las Vegas Bowl).
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Nov. 2023
Jonas was joined by his brothers Nick, 31, and Kevin, 36, for the outing, marking their second game of lawn bowling at the venue in the past week.
—Becca Longmire, Peoplemag, 4 Mar. 2024
Benedicts, hearty skillet bowls with eggs and crispy breakfast potatoes, and steak-and-eggs recall classic diner fare with a more fashionable presentation.
—Rachel Bernhard, Journal Sentinel, 30 Jan. 2024
Boys bowling Oak Hills 2904, West Clermont 2897 Leaders: Iles (OH) 503, Goewey (WC) 491.
—Alex Harrison, The Enquirer, 23 Jan. 2024
The Centre Pompidou, Paris’ inside-out architectural marvel that’s home to the city’s prestigious modern and contemporary art museum, has bowled me over on every visit.
—Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 31 Dec. 2023
Arrange croissants, and add egg mixture: Add egg mixture and 1 cup of the cheese to bowl with onion mixture, and stir to combine.
—Paige Grandjean, Southern Living, 11 Nov. 2023
Mookie Betts bowls during the 50/50 Foundation charity bowling event at Lucky Strike LA Live in Los Angeles on Feb. 3.Mat Hayward / Getty Images for Mookie Betts 5050 Foundation
The 31-year-old says some of his baseball success can be traced to time spent in bowling alleys.
—Morgan Chesky, NBC News, 24 Feb. 2024
In trying to display his everyman side, Bush went bowling — and took a tumble in the lanes.
—Chris Foran, Journal Sentinel, 13 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bowl.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near bowl
Cite this Entry
“Bowl.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bowl. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bowl
1 of 3 noun1
: 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
2 of 3 noun1
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 verb1
: 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
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