bowling

noun

bowl·​ing ˈbō-liŋ How to pronounce bowling (audio)
Synonyms of bowlingnext
: 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 younger sisters often played with their Barbies on the bowling machine, while Colleen, the oldest, helped her mother in the kitchen. — Mike Defabo, New York Times, 27 July 2026 They’ll also be taken out for activities like bowling, golfing, or an escape room. — Charlotte Observer, 27 July 2026 The East River girls bowling team won the state crown for the third year in a row. — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 July 2026 As a decapitated Louis (Jacob Anderson) came face-to-face with a vengeful Armand (Assad Zaman) — who really wanted an apology from his former lover — Lestat hung out in a bowling bag. — Samantha Highfill, Entertainment Weekly, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for bowling

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bowling was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing bowling

Rhymes for bowling

See All Rhymes for bowling

Browse Nearby Words

bowline on a bight
bowling
bowling alley
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bowling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bowling. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

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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
: lawn bowling

More from Merriam-Webster on bowling

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for bowling

Nglish: Translation of bowling for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bowling

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