ship

1 of 4

noun

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

ship

2 of 4

verb (1)

shipped; shipping; ships

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

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
shippable adjective

ship

3 of 4

verb (2)

shipped; shipping; ships

transitive verb

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
The 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
Sean 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
One 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
How does one even begin to write about Anne and Diana? … Megan Followes herself ships them.Danny M. Lavery

-ship

4 of 4

noun suffix

1
: 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

Example Sentences

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. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
According to the release, the 3D renderings show a huge debris field surrounding where the bow and the stern of the ship fell. Kimberlee Speakman, Peoplemag, 17 May 2023 The passengers were traveling from Southampton, England, to New York City, when the ship collided with an iceberg. Francisco Guzman, USA TODAY, 17 May 2023 In addition, Cosmo, who uses her psychic powers to bridge the two ships together, also required hand animation effects. Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 16 May 2023 Russia fired the Kinzhals from MiG-31K warplanes, along with nine cruise missiles from ships in the Black Sea and three S-400 cruise missiles launched from the ground, Ihnat said. Samya Kullab, Anchorage Daily News, 16 May 2023 Crew members of the blockade runner were able to escape prior to the attack, according to a Marine Environmental Research paper published in 2021, but the Rio Grande's cargo went down with ship. Dan Carson, Chron, 11 May 2023 But those who would command this ship of wonders must first get past its looks. Dan Neil, wsj.com, 11 May 2023 That August, a sister ship, SD 1031, successfully entered Tropical Storm Henri, but only in its early stages. Porter Fox, New York Times, 9 May 2023 The camera was allegedly installed on the cruise line’s Harmony of the Seas ship during a seven-day cruise departing from Miami, Florida, in late April, according to the criminal complaint in the case. Rebekah Riess, CNN, 9 May 2023
Verb
Several times over the past year, Russia has threatened to withdraw from the deal, arguing that provisions allowing its own agricultural products and fertilizers to be shipped to world markets are not being fulfilled. Matthew Mpoke Bigg, BostonGlobe.com, 17 May 2023 Corden's chocolates have been shipped to Washington, California, Florida, Arizona and Texas. Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 13 May 2023 Norman Reedus was shipped over to France for The Walking Dead: Daryl Dixon. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 12 May 2023 Google says the phone is shipping sometime next month. Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, 10 May 2023 The 3-year-old gelding walked onto the horse ambulance and was evaluated at the track and then shipped to an equine hospital in Lexington, where the horse was euthanized. John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2023 Critics like the group Shut Down Shein, formed in March, say that Shein avoids U.S. Customs and Border Protection scrutiny and billions in tariffs by shipping directly to its customers under a certain price threshold. Jordyn Holman, New York Times, 2 May 2023 The United States has pledged to deliver 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine and plans to ship them to the battlefield by the fall. Adam Taylor, Washington Post, 28 Apr. 2023 Based on the listing presented by Bring a Trailer, the car resided in Italy until 2014, when it was then shipped to the UK. Howard Walker, Robb Report, 26 Apr. 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

Dictionary Entries Near ship

Cite this Entry

“Ship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ship. Accessed 27 May. 2023.

Kids Definition

ship

1 of 3 noun
1
: a large seagoing boat
2
: a ship's crew
3

ship

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 suffix
ˌship
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

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