bowling

[ boh-ling ]

noun

1. any of several games in which players standing at one end of an alley or green roll balls at standing objects or toward a mark at the other end, especially a game in which a heavy ball is rolled from one end of a wooden alley at wooden pins set up at the opposite end. Compare boccie, candlepins ( def 2 ), duckpins ( def 2 ), lawn bowling, ninepins ( def 1 ), tenpins ( def 1 ).
2. the game of bowls; lawn bowling.
3. an act or instance of playing or participating in any such game:

   Bowling is a pleasant way to exercise.

bowling

/ ˈbəʊlɪŋ /

noun

1. any of various games in which a heavy ball is rolled down a special alley, usually made of wood, at a group of wooden pins, esp the games of tenpin bowling (tenpins) and skittles (ninepins)
2. the game of bowls
3. cricket the act of delivering the ball to the batsman
4. modifier of or relating to bowls or bowling

   a bowling team

Word History and Origins

Origin of bowling¹

First recorded in 1525–35; bowl ² + -ing ¹

Example Sentences

When it vanishes again, just in time for water-bottle bowling, my 11-year-old substitutes a lacrosse ball — and rolls a spare.

From Washington Post

They belong to civic organizations such as churches, Elks clubs and bowling leagues.

From Washington Post

To pass the time, Grisham and his friends had bowling tournaments in a two-lane alley and played a lot of poker, he said.

From Washington Post

In spite of the challenges, new bowling alleys have opened during the pandemic, and with the vaccine already being administered, a glimmer of hope is on the horizon.

From Eater

The league offers kickball, volleyball, dodgeball, bowling, and more.

From No Straight News

Brabner talked about the “MTV people” coming to Cleveland to get pictures of Pekar emptying the garbage and going bowling.

From The Daily Beast

Some twits have gone on Twitter to suggest Spencer was being reckless when he went out bowling.

From The Daily Beast

The 18-inch air ducts that feed the pipe rooms are each over 50 feet in length, large enough to fit a bowling ball.

From The Daily Beast

In the eyes of the NRA, Rambo is as grave a threat to gun rights as The Fonz—or the director of Bowling for Columbine.

From The Daily Beast

Paul employed his wife, a deacon in their Bowling Green presbyterian church, for damage control.

From The Daily Beast

A cricket-match was in progress, but the bowling and batting were extremely wild, thanks to The Warren strong beer.

From Project Gutenberg

Even then the Prime Minister was with difficulty prevented from bowling during forbidden hours.

From Project Gutenberg

He made some remark about the beauty of the night, and a minute later he was bowling back in a hansom to Merehaven House.

From Project Gutenberg

The Wellington came bowling along under close-reefed topsails.

From Project Gutenberg

I snatched up a war-club, dropped by a slain savage, and hurled it into the thick of them, bowling over two.

From Project Gutenberg