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bowling alley

American  
[boh-ling al-ee] / ˈboʊ lɪŋ ˌæl i /

noun

bowling alleys plural
  1. a building or enclosed area containing a number of lanes or alleys for the game of bowling.

  2. any of these long, narrow wooden lanes or alleys.


bowling alley British  

noun

    1. a long narrow wooden lane down which the ball is rolled in tenpin bowling

    2. a similar lane or alley, usually with raised sides, for playing skittles (ninepins)

  1. a building having several lanes for tenpin bowling

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of bowling alley

First recorded in 1545–55

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

He gave it a name—the SuperPretzel—and he wouldn’t end his workday until he had made at least one sale, even if it meant stopping by a bowling alley or convenience store on the way home.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 19, 2026

He marveled at their bowling alley and Dolby Atmos-equipped movie theater.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 21, 2026

Completed in 2021, the sprawling property is now believed to be worth around $35 million, offering an array of high-end amenities, including a bowling alley, private gym, an Olympic-size swimming pool, and a spa.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 4, 2026

To put an exact time stamp on it, I signed the lease of my first apartment in Little Armenia because the bowling alley from “The Big Lebowski” was only two blocks away.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 15, 2026

“I don’t think we’re going to have anything to match that outfit,” Selena said as we walked to a wall of cubbies full of shoes that reminded me of a bowling alley.

From "The First Rule of Punk" by Celia C. Pérez

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