ski

1 of 2

noun

ˈskē How to pronounce ski (audio)
 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
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 How to pronounce ski (audio)
ˈshēd
; skiing

intransitive verb

: to glide on skis in travel or as a sport

transitive verb

: to travel or pass over on skis
skiable adjective
skier noun

Examples of ski in a Sentence

Verb I have skied that mountain before.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Whistler Blackcomb, Canada Thanks to its giant mountains — Whistler and Blackcomb — this ski area has something for everyone. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 18 Nov. 2023 London’s Pleasance Theatre will transform into the Deer Valley ski resort for a 10-day run beginning Dec. 13. Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 16 Nov. 2023 Linus Karp will star as Paltrow while Terry Sanderson, the optometrist who collided with her on a Utah ski slope in 2016, is played by Joseph Martin. Variety, NBC News, 15 Nov. 2023 Once the site of the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Whistler is the largest ski resort in North America, where a pair of peaks provide endless terrain for an epic ski getaway. Bianca Bujan, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Nov. 2023 Elsewhere in the festive new campaign — named after decorative tree garlands — the model dons everything from bulky outerwear to ice skates and skis. Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 8 Nov. 2023 Whether on a winter ski trip to a remote cabin or hanging on the patio during the cool fall months—staying warm is not only critical for safety, but also for enjoyment. Andrew Waite, Field & Stream, 1 Nov. 2023 Whistler is home to one of North America's largest ski resorts, Whistler Blackcomb. Julia Eskins, Travel + Leisure, 3 Nov. 2023 Akerman can be seen next in The Christmas Classic, a holiday movie about Elizabeth Bird (Akerman) returning to her small hometown, vying to win a series of ski events so the local ski resort's owner, Randy Collins (Ryan Hansen), agrees to sell to her boyfriend's corporation. Jp Mangalindan, Peoplemag, 3 Nov. 2023
Verb
Given its location right off the mountain, guests can ski or snowboard in to experience the lively atmosphere, which often comes with live music. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 17 Nov. 2023 Sanderson had accused Paltrow of a hit-and-run crash — slamming into him while skiing on a beginner’s run at Deer Valley Resort, causing ongoing injuries, and then quickly leaving the scene along with her instructor. James Hibberd, The Hollywood Reporter, 15 Nov. 2023 At the same time, the number of people skiing in uncontrolled backcountry terrain, where avalanches are most likely, has exploded in the past 20 years. WIRED, 11 Nov. 2023 Even if your family doesn't ski, Jackson Gore is still an awesome resort. Karen Cicero, Parents, 3 Nov. 2023 The children's mother skied across Norway to raise money. Kris Van Cleave, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2023 Steady Skiing Try skiing at a steady cadence for long periods to help boost your endurance. Rozalynn S. Frazier, Health, 18 Oct. 2023 Couples can fill days skiing on the groomed slopes, riding the gondola for sweeping views, hitting the Nordic trail system, and twirling around the ice. Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 6 Nov. 2023 Their grandfather biked across America, and their grandmother skied the North and South Poles. Kris Van Cleave, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ski.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of ski was in 1755

Dictionary Entries Near ski

Cite this Entry

“Ski.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ski. Accessed 3 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

ski

1 of 2 noun
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"

More from Merriam-Webster on ski

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!