Ship — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈship/

Meaning & Definition of Ship

Ship (noun)

  1. a large seagoing vessel
  2. a sailing vessel having a bowsprit and usually three masts each composed of a lower mast, a topmast, and a topgallant mast
  3. boat; especially, one propelled by power or sail

Ship (verb)

  1. to place or receive on board a ship for transportation by water
  2. to cause to be transported
  3. to send (a new product) to stores so that it can be bought by customers
  4. to wishfully regard (specific people or fictional characters) as being or having the potential to become romantically involved with one another

Ship (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a large craft for travel by water

    "a cruise ship plying the warm waters of the Caribbean"

    similar: boat, keel, vessel
    related: aircraft carrier, argosy, barge, coaster, collier, containership, corvette, cruiser, cutter, destroyer, ferryboat, flagship, freighter, icebreaker, ironclad, lightship, liner, man-of-war, merchantman, merchant ship, motor ship, packet, steamer, steamship, superliner, supertanker, tanker, trader, tramp, transport, warship, watercraft, bark, brig, brigantine, caravel, clipper, junk, ketch, sailboat, schooner, square-rigger, tall ship, windjammer, xebec, yacht

Ship (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to cause to go or be taken from one place to another

    "we shipped those books out yesterday"

    similar: consign, dispatch, pack (off), send, shoot, transfer, transmit, transport
    related: convey, deliver, hand over, pass, render, advance, drop, launch, address, forward, export, import, bestow, contribute, donate, give, present, resend, return
    opposite: accept, receive
    near: acquire, draw, earn, gain, garner, get, obtain, procure, secure

Related Entry: Ship (out) (verb)

Ship (out) is a different word from Ship. The synonyms below are for ship (out), not for ship.

  1. to travel on water in a vessel

    "after college he decide to ship out on a tramp steamer and see the world"

    similar: boat, cruise, ferry, navigate, sail, voyage, make sail, take ship
    related: canoe, kayak, yacht, coast

Related Entry: Jump ship (phrase)

Jump ship is a different word from Ship. The synonyms below are for jump ship, not for ship.

  1. to leave (a cause or party) often in order to take up another

    "He jumped ship when he found out the non-profit's founder was keeping much of the funding for himself."

    similar: defect (from), desert, rat (on), go back on, walk out on
    related: abandon, abdicate, abjure, apostatize, cut off, disown, forsake, quit, reject, renounce, repudiate, spurn, renege, depart, go, leave, withdraw
    near: adhere (to), cling (to), stick (to or with), cherish, cultivate, foster

Related Entry: Take ship (phrase)

Take ship is a different word from Ship. The synonyms below are for take ship, not for ship.

  1. to travel on water in a vessel

    "The sailors took ship for home."

    similar: boat, cruise, ferry, navigate, sail, ship (out), voyage, make sail
    related: canoe, kayak, yacht, coast

Related Entry: Merchant ship (noun)

Merchant ship is a different word from Ship. The synonyms below are for merchant ship, not for ship.

  1. as in aircraft carrier, motor ship

    similar: aircraft carrier, argosy, barge, coaster, collier, containership, corvette, cruiser, cutter, destroyer, ferryboat, flagship, freighter, icebreaker, ironclad, lightship, liner, man-of-war, merchantman, motor ship, packet, steamer, steamship, superliner, supertanker, tanker, trader, tramp, transport, warship, watercraft, boat, keel, ship, vessel, bark, brig, brigantine, caravel, clipper, junk, ketch, sailboat, schooner, square-rigger, tall ship, windjammer, xebec, yacht

Related Entry: Motor ship (noun)

Motor ship is a different word from Ship. The synonyms below are for motor ship, not for ship.

  1. as in aircraft carrier, merchant ship

    similar: aircraft carrier, argosy, barge, coaster, collier, containership, corvette, cruiser, cutter, destroyer, ferryboat, flagship, freighter, icebreaker, ironclad, lightship, liner, man-of-war, merchantman, merchant ship, packet, steamer, steamship, superliner, supertanker, tanker, trader, tramp, transport, warship, watercraft, boat, keel, ship, vessel, bark, brig, brigantine, caravel, clipper, junk, ketch, sailboat, schooner, square-rigger, tall ship, windjammer, xebec, yacht

Related Entry: Tall ship (noun)

Tall ship is a different word from Ship. The synonyms below are for tall ship, not for ship.

  1. as in yacht, sailboat

    similar: bark, brig, brigantine, caravel, clipper, junk, ketch, sailboat, schooner, square-rigger, windjammer, xebec, yacht, aircraft carrier, argosy, barge, coaster, collier, containership, corvette, cruiser, cutter, destroyer, ferryboat, flagship, freighter, icebreaker, ironclad, lightship, liner, man-of-war, merchantman, merchant ship, motor ship, packet, steamer, steamship, superliner, supertanker, tanker, trader, tramp, transport, warship, watercraft, boat, keel, ship, vessel

Related Entry: Taken ship (phrase)

Taken ship is a different word from Ship. The synonyms below are for taken ship, not for ship.

  1. to travel on water in a vessel

    "The sailors took ship for home."

    similar: boated, cruised, ferried, navigated, sailed, shipped (out), voyaged, made sail
    related: canoed, kayaked, yachted, coasted

Related Entry: Jumped ship (phrase)

Jumped ship is a different word from Ship. The synonyms below are for jumped ship, not for ship.

  1. to leave (a cause or party) often in order to take up another

    "He jumped ship when he found out the non-profit's founder was keeping much of the funding for himself."

    similar: defected (from), deserted, ratted (on), walked out on, went back on
    related: abandoned, abdicated, abjured, apostatized, cut off, disowned, forsook, quit, rejected, renounced, repudiated, spurned, reneged, departed, left, went, withdrew
    near: adhered (to), clung (to), stuck (to or with), cherished, cultivated, fostered

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Ship

The most common words with a similar meaning to Ship:

boat, keel, vessel, consign, dispatch, pack (off), send, shoot, transfer, transmit, transport

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Ship

Words with the opposite meaning of Ship:

accept, receive

Related Words for Ship

aircraft carrier, argosy, barge, coaster, collier, containership, corvette, cruiser, cutter, destroyer, ferryboat, flagship, freighter, icebreaker, ironclad, lightship, liner, man-of-war, merchantman, merchant ship, motor ship, packet, steamer, steamship, superliner, supertanker, tanker, trader, tramp, warship

Near Antonyms of Ship

acquire, draw, earn, gain, garner, get, obtain, procure, secure

Word Forms of Ship

Inflections: ships, shipped, shipping

Derived words: shippable (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Ship

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

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Ship

Words & Phrases Containing Ship

-ship, ship biscuit, ship-bound, ship of state, ship of the line, ship's papers

Frequently Asked Questions about Ship

What does "Ship" mean?

"Ship" means a large seagoing vessel. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a large seagoing vessel. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Ship"?

Other words for "Ship" include boat, keel, vessel, consign, dispatch, pack (off), send and shoot. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Ship" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Ship"?

There are 75 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Ship". Common alternatives include boat, keel, vessel, consign, dispatch, pack (off), send, shoot, transfer and transmit.

What is the opposite of "Ship"?

Antonyms of "Ship" include accept and receive. Near antonyms include acquire, draw, earn and gain.

How do you use "Ship" in a sentence?

Examples of "Ship" in a sentence: "a cruise ship plying the warm waters of the Caribbean"; "we shipped those books out yesterday".

Is "Ship" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Ship" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Ship" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A2-level word, "Ship" is typical of Cambridge A2 Key (KET), PTE Academic 30–42, TOEIC Listening & Reading 225+.

How do you pronounce "Ship"?

"Ship" is pronounced /ˈship/.