ship

1 of 4

noun

plural ships
often attributive
1
a
: a large seagoing vessel
b
: a sailing vessel having a bowsprit and usually three masts each composed of a lower mast, a topmast, and a topgallant mast
2
: boat
especially : one propelled by power or sail
3
: a ship's crew
4
: fortune sense 2
when their ship comes in they'll be able to live in better style
5

see also take ship

ship

2 of 4

verb (1)

shipped; shipping; ships

transitive verb

1
a
: to place or receive on board a ship for transportation by water
b
: to cause to be transported
shipped him off to prep school
2
obsolete : to provide with a ship
3
: to put in place for use
ship the tiller
4
: to take into a ship or boat
ship the gangplank
5
: to engage for service on a ship
6
: to take (water) over the side
used of a boat or a ship

intransitive verb

1
: to embark on a ship
2
a
: to go or travel by ship
often used with out
b
: to proceed by ship or other means under military orders
often used with out
3
: to engage to serve on shipboard
4
: to be sent for delivery
the order will ship soon
shippable adjective

ship

3 of 4

verb (2)

shipped; shipping; ships

transitive verb

informal
: to wishfully regard (specific people or fictional characters) as being or having the potential to become romantically involved with one another
Naturally, their followers gushed … and started shipping them all over again. "Please be back together," one user commented …Alyssa Morin
The Office's on-and-off pairing remained so tantalizingly close after the series wrapped in 2013 that even [Mindy] Kaling gets why people are still shipping them.Sarah Grossbart
Sean Astin, who portrayed Bob Newby, the love interest of Ryder's character, Joyce Byers, in season 2, told Us Weekly exclusively earlier this month that he hopes Jim and Joyce will end up together. "I've shipped them since the beginning," the 49-year-old declared.Samantha Leffler
One close friendship does develop between two girls, and while fans of other Dreamworks shows like She-Ra and the Princesses of Power may start shipping them, budding romance at this point is only wishful thinking.Alana Joli Abbott
How does one even begin to write about Anne and Diana? … Megan Followes herself ships them.Danny M. Lavery

-ship

4 of 4

noun suffix

1
: state : condition : quality
friendship
2
: office : dignity : profession
clerkship
3
: art : skill
horsemanship
4
: something showing, exhibiting, or embodying a quality or state
township
fellowship
5
: one entitled to a (specified) rank, title, or appellation
his Lordship
6
: the body of persons participating in a specified activity
readership
listenership

Examples of ship in a Sentence

Noun the captain of the ship He will travel by ship. Verb (1) The goods were shipped from a foreign port. Your order is expected to ship soon. The company will ship its new software next month. The software will ship next month. The soldiers were shipped overseas for duty. When the waves increased, the boat began shipping water.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Since then, according to Manila, China’s coast guard has regularly harassed Philippine fishing vessels in the fertile waters near Scarborough Shoal – most recently on February 22 – and fired water cannon on Philippine ships resupplying a military outpost in the Second Thomas Shoal. Kathleen Magramo, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024 Plans to tow the ship to a safe port never materialized. Michael Dorgan, Fox News, 2 Mar. 2024 Since November, the Houthi rebels have repeatedly targeted ships in the Red Sea over Israel’s war in Gaza. Joshua Goodman, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2024 Some fans may make nicknames for their ships by combining the characters' names. Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 2 Mar. 2024 Technology leader plays a crucial role in steering the ship of innovation towards success by providing vision and direction needed to chart a course for the new technology program. Rosalba Carandente, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2024 British sailors overtook the ship, imprisoned its captain and crew and seized the cargo. Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 1 Mar. 2024 Early adopters not only enjoy a head start over their competitors but also the pivotal role in steering the AI ship in their niche, establishing a brand as an innovator and cementing loyalty that sticks. Sherzod Odilov, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 As for the music, Ty deserves a ton of credit for steering the ship at times and keeping Ye from going creatively off the rails on some tracks. Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 21 Feb. 2024
Verb
The dumplings were produced by CJ Foods Manufacturing Beaumont Corporation in California on December 7 and shipped to Trader Joe’s locations nationwide, according to an announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service. Jamie Gumbrecht, CNN, 4 Mar. 2024 The items were shipped to Trader Joe’s retail locations nationwide. Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2024 These items were shipped to Trader Joe’s retail locations nationwide. Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 4 Mar. 2024 The items were shipped to Trader Joe's locations nationwide. Alex Groth, Journal Sentinel, 4 Mar. 2024 Apple will aim to ship as soon as 2019, one report claims. Samanth Subramanian, Quartz, 2 Mar. 2024 According to court documents, Thomas was the head of a drug trafficking organization responsible for shipping large quantities of drugs to at least four states (Hawaii, Oklahoma, Alabama, and New Jersey) and smuggling fentanyl into the prison. Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024 Because most of Shein’s goods are shipped directly to U.K. customers from China, rather than being sent in bulk shipments, stored in warehouses and then packaged and distributed locally (as almost all other brands and retailers do). Brooke Roberts-Islam, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2024 Once the election is certified, ballots will be shipped to county warehouses for the required retention period of 22 months. Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ship.' 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

Middle English, from Old English scip; akin to Old High German skif ship

Verb (2)

verbal derivative of ship "romantic pairing of a fictional couple," shortened from relationship

Noun suffix

Middle English, from Old English -scipe; akin to Old High German -scaft -ship, Old English scieppan to shape — more at shape

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Verb (2)

1998, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ship was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near ship

Cite this Entry

“Ship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ship. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ship

1 of 3 noun
1
: a large seagoing boat
2
: a ship's crew
3

ship

2 of 3 verb
shipped; shipping
1
a
: to place or receive on board a ship for transportation by water
b
: to cause to be transported
had her boxes shipped home
2
: to take into a ship or boat
ship oars
3
: to sign on as a crew member of a ship
4
: to take in (as water) over the side

-ship

3 of 3 noun suffix
ˌship
1
: state : condition : quality
friendship
apprenticeship
2
: position : office : duties
professorship
3
: art : skill : activity
horsemanship
penmanship
4
: one having or entitled to be called by a (specified) title
his Lordship
her Ladyship
5
: the whole body of persons included in a class
a large readership
Etymology

Noun suffix

Old English -scipe "condition, something having a certain quality"

More from Merriam-Webster on ship

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