ski

American  

[skee] / ski /

Rarely skee

noun

skis, plural ski plural

1. one of a pair of long, slender runners made of wood, plastic, or metal used in gliding over snow.

2. water ski.

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verb (used without object)

skis, present (3rd person singular) skied, past participle, past skiing present participle

1. to travel on skis, as for sport.

verb (used with object)

skis, present (3rd person singular) skied, past participle, past skiing present participle

1. to use skis on; travel on skis over.

   to ski the slopes of Switzerland.

ski British  

/ skiː /

noun

1. 1. one of a pair of wood, metal, or plastic runners that are used for gliding over snow. Skis are commonly attached to shoes for sport, but may also be used as landing gear for aircraft, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      a ski boot

2. a water-ski

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verb

1. (intr) to travel on skis

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• skier
  noun
• skiing
  noun
• skiable
  adjective

Inflected Forms

noun

• skis
  plural
• ski
  plural

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has skied
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have skied
  perfect
• are skiing
  progressive
• am skiing
  progressive 1st person singular
• is skiing
  progressive 3rd person singular
• have been skiing
  perfect progressive
• has been skiing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• skis
  singular 3rd person
• skiing
  participle

Past

• had skied
  perfect
• was skiing
  progressive singular
• were skiing
  progressive plural
• had been skiing
  perfect progressive
• skied
  simple
• skied
  participle

Future

• will ski
  simple
• will have skied
  perfect
• will have been skiing
  perfect progressive
• will be skiing
  progressive

Etymology

Origin of ski

First recorded in 1745–55; from Norwegian; Old Norse skīth; cognate with Old English scīd “strip of wood,” German Scheit “thin board”

Explanation

Skis are sporting equipment—long, thin pieces of wood, plastic, or metal that you strap to your feet so you can glide across the snow or down a snowy hill. To slide down a mountain on skis is to ski. You can also cross country ski, or move across flat, snowy ground and gentle hills on skis. The special boots that skiers wear are called ski boots, and you also need a ski helmet and ski goggles when you go skiing. In its earliest English use, the word was spelled skee, and it's rooted in the Old Norse skið, "long snowshoe."

Example Sentences

She once struggled to walk with her children, but can now ski and is off all lupus medication.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

Vail Resorts dropped 4.3% after the mountain resorts company said ski pass sales have dropped for the upcoming North American winter season and it cut fiscal-year guidance.

From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026

What should we do about the ski house?

From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026

“We have key initiatives under way in our gear, ski school and dining businesses, as well as every facet of guest engagement and communication,” Katz said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

Dad lifted something off his lap: ski goggles.

From "Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus" by Dusti Bowling