ship
gb/ʃˈɪp/ us/ʃˈɪp/
A2
English
~ 1400
Senses
0 senses
Noun
A2
entity
1
Large watercraft for transport
A big boat that carries people or things across the sea or ocean.
Usage pattern:
[a/an/the] ship
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'boat' and 'ship' interchangeably, but 'ship' usually refers to larger vessels, especially those that travel on the ocean.
Synonyms
vessel (More formal or technical term, can refer to any large boat.)
|
boat (More general term; often smaller than a ship.)
Antonyms
aircraft (A vehicle for traveling through the air, not water.)
Collocations
cargo ship
|passenger ship
|warship
|cruise ship
|merchant ship
Themes
transportation
|travel
|maritime
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The ship left the harbor early in the morning.
- They boarded a cruise ship bound for the Caribbean.
- The navy deployed a new warship to the area.
- The cargo ship carried thousands of containers.
- That old ship has been restored as a museum.
Learner examples
- The ship is very big.
- We took a ship to the island.
- The ship is in the port.
- I saw a big ship on the sea.
Verb
B1
action
2
Send goods somewhere
To send something to another place, often using a delivery company.
Usage pattern:
to ship [something] [somewhere]
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'ship' (to send) with 'ship' (a boat). Context usually makes the meaning clear.
Synonyms
deliver (Focuses on bringing goods to the recipient; does not necessarily imply long-distance or commercial transport.)
|
dispatch (More formal; often used in business or official contexts.)
Antonyms
receive (To get something that has been sent.)
Collocations
ship goods
|ship products
|ship orders
|ship worldwide
Themes
business
|commerce
|logistics
|transportation
|communication
Examples
- We can ship your order within 24 hours.
- They ship fresh fruit directly from the farm.
- The company ships its products worldwide.
- The books were shipped in a sturdy box.
- Please confirm the address before we ship the package.
Learner examples
- We will ship your shoes tomorrow.
- They ship food to many countries.
- The store ships clothes to my city.
- He shipped the gift to his friend.
Verb
informal
B2
action
3
Support romantic pairing
To want two people in a story or real life to be boyfriend and girlfriend (or partners).
Usage pattern:
to ship [two people]
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize this is slang and informal, mainly used in fan communities.
Synonyms
root for (To support or hope for someone’s success; less specific to romance.)
Antonyms
oppose (To be against the idea of two people being together.)
Collocations
ship a couple
|fans ship them
Themes
entertainment
|internet culture
|relationships
|communication
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- Many fans ship those two characters from the show.
- I totally ship them—they’re perfect together!
- Do you ship this couple? I think they have great chemistry.
Learner examples
- Fans ship the two actors.
- I ship them in the movie.
- Do you ship this couple?
- People ship these characters online.
Grammar
Dictionary form
ship
IPA
GB/ʃˈɪp/
US/ʃˈɪp/
Syllables & stress
ship (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (ship)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: ship
- Plural: ships
Verb
- Base: ship
- 3rd Person Singular: ships
- Present Participle: shipping
- Past: shipped
Word family
Highlights
- Irregular present participle: shipping Verb
- Irregular past: shipped Verb
Expressions
run a tight ship
1/ɹˈʌn ə tˈaɪt ʃˈɪp/
idiom
informal
Manage strictly and efficiently
To control a group or business in a very organized and strict way.
Examples
- The new manager runs a tight ship—everyone must be on time.
- She runs a tight ship in her classroom.
ship out
2/ʃˈɪp ˈaʊt/
phrasal verb
Leave for duty or travel
To leave for a trip or work duty, often by boat or in the military.
Examples
- The soldiers will ship out next week for training overseas.
- He shipped out to join the crew of a fishing vessel.
sink someone's ship
3/sˈɪŋk sˈʌmwˌʌnz ʃˈɪp/
idiom
informal
Ruin someone's plans completely
To cause someone's plans to fail completely.
Examples
- The sudden loss of funding sank their ship before it could launch.
- His mistake sank our ship during negotiations.
that ship has sailed
4/ðˈæt ʃˈɪp hˈæz sˈeɪld/
idiom
informal
Opportunity no longer available
It is too late to do something now; the chance is gone.
Examples
- I thought about studying abroad, but that ship has sailed now that I have a job.
- You should have asked her out earlier—sorry, that ship has sailed.
jump ship
1/d͡ʒˈʌmp ʃˈɪp/
idiom
informal
Leave job/project suddenly and unexpectedly
To quit your job or leave a project suddenly without finishing it.
Examples
- Several employees jumped ship when they heard about the merger.
- He jumped ship before the project was finished.
- He jumped ship just before the company collapsed.