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

Stynes even arranged for the ski station to activate the gondola to facilitate their transfer to another hill. —Jen Murphy, Robb Report, 8 Feb. 2025

Holiday tickets, rental equipment and ski lessons sell out quickly. —Perri Ormont Blumberg Fox News, Fox News, 8 Feb. 2025

Verb

Breezy Johnson, 29, grew up in Victor, Idaho, and skied at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Wyoming, according to prior Idaho Statesman reporting. —Carolyn Komatsoulis, Idaho Statesman, 9 Feb. 2025

Sophomore Cash Achenbach, eighth grader Liam Leaders and seventh grader Magnus Cromie skied for the boys squad. —Tom Schardin, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 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

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"