bowling

noun

bowl·​ing ˈbō-liŋ How to pronounce bowling (audio)
: any of several games in which balls are rolled (as on a green or down an alley) at an object or group of objects

Examples of bowling in a Sentence

She watches bowling on TV.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The new design turned the typical shape of a baseball bat into something more closely resembling a bowling pin. Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2025 The company’s founders just never imagined that shape would resemble a bowling pin. Dan Gelston, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025 The bat is thinnest at the handle, then widens out at the barrel, then slims down toward the tip—sort of like a bowling pin. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 Apr. 2025 That includes a big expansion of premium formats, to bars, eateries and activities from axe throwing to bowling that have been boosting regional chains. Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 31 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bowling

Word History

First Known Use

1535, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bowling was in 1535

Cite this Entry

“Bowling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bowling. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

bowling

noun
bowl·​ing ˈbō-liŋ How to pronounce bowling (audio)
1
: a game played by rolling balls so as to knock down pins set up at the far end of an alley
2

More from Merriam-Webster on bowling

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!