ski

1 of 2

noun

ˈskē 

British sometimes

ˈshē 

plural skis also ski

1

a

: one of a pair of narrow strips of wood, metal, or plastic curving upward in front that are used especially for gliding over snow

b

: water ski

2

: a piece of material that resembles a ski and is used as a runner on a vehicle

ski

2 of 2

verb

skied ˈskēd  ˈshēd  ; skiing

intransitive verb

: to glide on skis in travel or as a sport

transitive verb

: to travel or pass over on skis

skiable

ˈskē-ə-bəl 

adjective

skier noun

Examples of ski in a Sentence

Verb

I have skied that mountain before.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Tourists come to relax in the quaint town, which has about 5,000 residents, and ski at Mountain High. — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2026

From my little Brooklyn, New York abode, that generally means heading out east for beachy trips to Montauk, hopping around upstate’s Hudson Valley or Catskills towns, and taking advantage of ski mountains all over the east coast. — Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Sep. 2026

Verb

Mahomes floated one in over the shoulder of Noah Gray for a 22-yard completion to set up a field goal, and Kelce skied for an 11-yard touchdown reception to seal the outcome. — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 27 Sep. 2026

After McConnell hit a wedge to 15 feet, Florjancic skied his approach off the back of the green, leaving McConnell another window. — Harris Horowitz, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Norwegian, from Old Norse skīth stick of wood, ski; akin to Old English scīd board, scēadan to divide — more at shed entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1755, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

circa 1890, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Phrases Containing ski

• après-ski
• ski boot
• ski cross
• ski jump
• ski lift
• ski mask
• ski patrol
• ski pole
• ski run
• ski touring
• ski tow
• water ski

Rhymes for ski

• be
• bee
• bree
• cree
• fee
• flea
• flee
• free
• gee
• ghee
• glee
• he

Kids Definition

ski

1 of 2 noun

ˈskē 

plural skis

: one of a pair of narrow strips of wood, metal, or plastic curving upward in front that are used for gliding over snow or water

ski

2 of 2 verb

skied; skiing

: to glide on skis

skier noun

Etymology

Noun

from Norwegian ski "a ski," from an early Norse word skīth "a stick of wood"