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

First responders maneuvered through the blizzard on snowcats and skis to rescue the survivors. —Tony Briscoe, Los Angeles Times, 22 Feb. 2026

Norway's Johannes Høsflot Klaebo skis on his way to cross the finish line to win gold ahead in the men's cross country 50km mass start final event of the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. —CBS News, 21 Feb. 2026

Verb

But a resort spokesperson told South Tahoe Now that one incident involved the death of a 33-year-old man while skiing on an intermediate trail, and another was a medical emergency involving a 58-year-old man. —Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026

While conditions remain dangerous, experts advise reading the avalanche forecast, skiing with local expert guides and choosing shallower slopes to ski off-piste. —Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 22 Feb. 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"