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

In the 2010 comedy about a group of friends who go back in time through a hot tub at a ski resort, Stan played the over-the-top bully character Blaine, who gets into a fight with Rob Corddry's Lou. —Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2025

No More Fun and Games Ski Resorts and Climate Change Olivia Box January 8, 2022 The effects of climate change are already being felt by some ski resorts, but filling in the slopes with artificial snow may not be a good solution. —The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 22 Apr. 2025

Verb

Shortly after the Appalachian Mountain Club began skiing New Hampshire’s backcountry and the Civilian Conservation Corps cut Vermont’s first trails at what’s now Stowe, New England was pond skimming, too. —Anna Fiorentino, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Apr. 2025

But just like that: The chances of anyone skiing at Homewood this winter disappeared. —Megan Michelson, Outside Online, 4 Apr. 2025

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"