ski

1 of 4

noun (1)

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 4

verb (1)

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

sky

3 of 4

noun (2)

ˈskī 

plural skies

1

: the upper atmosphere or expanse of space that constitutes an apparent great vault or arch over the earth

2

: heaven sense 2

3

a

: weather in the upper atmosphere

b

: climate

… temperate English skies …

—G. G. Coulton

sky

4 of 4

verb (2)

skied or skyed; skying

transitive verb

1

chiefly British : to throw or toss up : flip

2

: to hang (something, such as a painting) above the line of vision

3

: to hit (a ball) high into the air

intransitive verb

: to jump high

sky for a rebound

Synonyms of ski

Noun (2)

• blue
• welkin
• skyline
• horizon
• firmament
• heaven(s)

Examples of ski in a Sentence

Verb (1)

I have skied that mountain before.

Noun (2)

There wasn't a cloud in the sky.

Dark clouds moved quickly across the sky.

Hailstones suddenly fell out of the sky.

The sun was high in the sky.

The forecast is for sunny skies tomorrow.

a patch of blue sky

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In the winter, the resort also hosts occasional after-dark ski events on Dollar Mountain, a beginner-friendly ski area home to the world’s first chairlift. — Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 19 July 2026

Lincoln National Forest is also home to Ski Apache, the country’s southernmost ski resort. — Allison Savage Bates, Denver Post, 19 July 2026

Verb

Instead of flipping his day, the branding exec likes to ski in the morning and doesn’t head to the office until noon, preferring to work later in the evening—often over dinner with clients. — Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 15 July 2026

Guests can hike, cycle, or ski up to Moonshack, a secluded cabin built from reclaimed timber next to an observatory with a telescope on par with those used by major research universities. — Jesse Ashlock, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 July 2026

Noun

In El-Obeid, a strategic trade and aid hub that is home to more than half a million people, many now fear what comes from the sky. — Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 20 July 2026

Zidane has been waiting for this moment for five years, and expectations are sky high. — James Horncastle, New York Times, 19 July 2026

Verb

Early morning storms brought rain to the Kansas City area Friday, and forecasters say the rest of the day could swing from a quiet break to strong afternoon storms, depending on how quickly skies clear and temperatures rise. — Kansas City Star, 10 July 2026

Justin Gaethje’s fighting career came full circle under a pair of night skies nearly two decades apart. — Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 6 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

Noun (2)

Middle English, cloud, sky, from Old Norse skȳ cloud; akin to Old English scēo cloud

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1755, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

circa 1890, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (2)

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1802, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

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"