ships - Master This Word
Master this word with our 5-step learning method – Learn English in English
ships Word Meanings
- a large boat for traveling on water
- to transport goods or people
- a vessel used for navigation
ships Example Sentences
Example sentences are the start of understanding. Don't rush to memorize. First feel how the word works in a sentence.
ships Phonetic & Pronunciation
UK
/ʃɪp/
US
/ʃɪp/
ships Word Etymology
Root decomposition: ship (noun form). Historical origin: Old English 'scip'. Memory image: Imagine a grand ship sailing across the ocean, symbolizing adventure and trade, showcasing the journey of people and goods.
Note 1: These definitions and etymologies are not standard dictionary definitions, but extended explanations provided to help with memorization and understanding of the actual application of words. Through this background information, we strive to make words more vivid and easier to understand, and help you remember their meanings in real life.
Note 2: LexiTalk designs the learning flow around the linguistics principle of “Comprehensible Input.” When learners encounter material that is slightly above their level but still understandable from context, the brain naturally absorbs the language. That’s why we keep every word inside authentic contexts, using examples and associations to help you understand it and use it flexibly.
Read the FAQ explanation of Comprehensible InputEnglish Brain Route
I grip the railing and push off from the dock. The ship tilts as the wake rolls by, and I feel the spray on my face. I shift my weight, adjust my stance, and keep my balance as the hull glides away. In this small moment of control, the ship becomes a means to move people and goods.
Real Context
Ship is a versatile English word with noun and verb uses. As a noun, it means a large boat used for travel on water, especially a merchant, passenger, or naval vessel; you might hear about a cruise ship or a warship. As a verb, to ship means to transport goods or people by water or to send something by ship, as in shipping cargo or shipping products overseas. The word also appears in modern culture in the phrase to ship a couple, meaning to support a romantic pairing; this usage is informal and separate from the transport sense. Etymology traces back to Old English scip. Memory image: a grand ship sailing across the ocean, symbolizing adventure and trade, the journey of people and goods.
Usage Reminders
- Remember: use ship for large vessels; use boat for smaller ones. Use ship to transport by sea; use ship as a package if you ship something overseas. Separate transport sense from the pop culture usage (to ship a couple). In formal writing, prefer vessel or ship when naming a specific ship. Avoid mixing ship with air transport terms. The noun ship and the verb ship share a common root but different contexts.
Common Misconceptions
- Ship and boat are always interchangeable for any size vessel.
- To ship only means to travel by ship yourself.
- Shipping is only about sending items domestically, not internationally.
- To ship a couple always refers to transporting them somewhere.
- Ship as a verb is never used in everyday logistics.
Thinking Differences
For English learners, ship is a classic polysemy to memorize: large vessel vs act of transport by sea. Many learners overgeneralize to other transport modes or pick the informal fan-culture sense without recognizing its primary nautical meaning.
Learning Tips
- Practice using ship with both senses in simple sentences
- Compare ship with boat to reinforce size and context
- Learn common collocations: shipping cargo, cargo ship, cruise ship
- Remember ship as a verb for sea transport; use send by sea as appropriate
- Be aware of the pop-culture sense and avoid confusion in formal writing
- Link etymology to the sea memory image to fix the meaning
Related Listening
🔥 Advanced
🔥 Advanced
Blackout and Signalling in a Regional Crisis
English Learning Listening Content
Listen Now
Want to practice more words?
Download LexiTalk app for personalized learning experience
Download App