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

The pessimistic interpretation would be that the market has gotten out a bit over its skis. —Jj Kinahan, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025

Parts of the Appalachian Trail are 15 minutes away, and a handful of ski resorts are within 30 minutes. —Angela Serratore, New York Times, 14 May 2025

Verb

The man, 39-year-old Eric Page, died while skiing at the Black Mountain Ski Area in Jackson, about 100 miles north of Concord, the Jackson Police Department said. —Saleen Martin, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2025

There, while out skiing Banff’s backcountry, these friends—Cyril Paris and Cliff White—stumbled upon a small pool of meltwater and dared each other to cross. —Anna Fiorentino, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 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"