rink

noun

ˈriŋk 

plural rinks

1

a

: a smooth extent of ice marked off for curling or ice hockey

b

: a surface of ice for ice-skating

also : a building containing such a rink

c

: an enclosure for roller-skating

2

: a lane for lawn bowling

3

: a team of players in curling or lawn bowling

Examples of rink in a Sentence

The hockey team is practicing at the rink.

Recent Examples on the Web

But the Sabres captain has played in 48 games this season while dealing with an unimaginable situation away from the rink. —Matthew Fairburn, New York Times, 28 Jan. 2026

The stage was minuscule compared with most rinks. —Bob Morris, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026

That thin film is what makes people either slip or glide smoothly across (in the case of an ice-skating rink). —Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 26 Jan. 2026

Officials from the Minnesota Wild unveiled the future site at center ice on the rink in Hastings, at the conclusion of the 2026 event, which was played before decent crowds despite the dangerously cold weather. —Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 25 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English (Scots) rinc area in which a contest takes place, from Anglo-French renc row, lists — more at rank entry 1

First Known Use

1787, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing rink

• ice rink
• roller rink
• skating rink

Rhymes for rink

• blink
• brink
• chink
• cinque
• clink
• dink
• drink
• fink
• hink
• ink
• kink
• klink

Kids Definition

rink

noun

ˈriŋk 

1

: a sheet of ice laid out for curling, ice hockey, or ice-skating

2

: an enclosed place for roller-skating