shipping

noun

ship·​ping ˈshi-piŋ How to pronounce shipping (audio)
Synonyms of shippingnext
1
a
: passage on a ship
b
: ships
c
: the body of ships in one place or belonging to one port or country
2
: the act or business of one that ships

Examples of shipping in a Sentence

The fruit was ready for shipping. They protected our shipping from submarines during wartime.
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.
Out of the box, my scope was slightly off, probably from travel or shipping. — Damian Peach, Space.com, 4 Aug. 2026 In some areas, vast sandbanks have emerged, cargo shipping has been disrupted, tourism has suffered, and even electricity generation has been affected as river levels continue to fall. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2026 The tanker has been grounded since June, according to two shipping and maritime news outlets which reported that the crew reported an explosion on board at the time. — ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026 Built on a 311 acre plot of land, the new institution will showcase the former shipping magnate’s personal art collection, which is estimated to contain around 3,000 works by South American and international artists. — News Desk, Artforum, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for shipping

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of shipping was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing shipping

Rhymes for shipping

See All Rhymes for shipping

Browse Nearby Words

shipper fork
shipping
shipping and handling
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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Kids Definition

shipping

noun
ship·​ping
ˈship-iŋ
1
: the body of ships in one place or belonging to one port or country
2
: the act or business of one that ships goods
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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