bowling

bowling — noun

1. an indoor game where players send a large ball down a lane so it knocks over sta

1.nounA2
Definition

an indoor game where players send a large ball down a lane so it knocks over standing pins.

Example

On Friday night, Hana went bowling with her cousins after dinner.

go bowling

Bowling became Theo's favorite winter activity after the town pool closed.

bowling as the sport name

Common collocations
  • go bowling
  • watch bowling
  • bowling alley
  • bowling league
  • ten-pin bowling
Synonyms
  • ten-pin bowling

    the full name, useful when you need to distinguish it from other bowling games

  • bowling game

    often refers to one match or session, not the sport in general

Grammar Patterns

go bowling

watch bowling

a bowling alley

Usage Note

Usually uncountable when naming the sport, and very common after 'go': 'go bowling'. In compounds such as 'bowling alley' and 'bowling league', it names things connected with the game.

Common Mistakes

We did bowling after work.
We went bowling after work.
the usual expression is 'go bowling', not 'do bowling'.
My grandparents play bowls at the mall every Saturday.
My grandparents go bowling at the mall every Saturday.
'bowls' is a different game, usually played on grass.

2. in cricket, the bowler's action or skill when sending the ball toward the batter

2.nounC1
Definition

in cricket, the bowler's action or skill when sending the ball toward the batter.

Example

Ravi's bowling troubled the new batter from the first over.

possessive: [player]'s bowling

Strong wind made the fast bowling harder to control.

fast bowling

Common collocations
  • fast bowling
  • spin bowling
  • accurate bowling
  • India's bowling
  • Ravi's bowling
Synonyms
  • delivery

    usually one ball sent by the bowler, not bowling in general

  • bowling spell

    a stretch of overs by one bowler, not the overall action or skill

Grammar Patterns

fast bowling

spin bowling

[player]'s bowling

Usage Note

Only used in cricket. Often modified by words such as 'fast', 'spin', and 'accurate', or by a player's name, as in 'Ravi's bowling'.

Common Mistakes

Mei's bowling hit the ball over the fence.
Mei's batting hit the ball over the fence.
in cricket, 'bowling' is sending the ball to the batter, not hitting it.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

For most learners, 'bowling' usually means the indoor pin game in sense 1. 'Ten-pin bowling' is the full, precise name, useful when you need to distinguish it from other bowling games. 'Bowls' is different: players roll biased balls across grass or a flat indoor surface, not down a lane at pins. 'Skittles' is another older pin game, often linked with pubs or local clubs in Britain, and many learners will meet it less often than 'bowling'. So if friends say 'Let's go bowling', they almost always mean ten-pin bowling. Compare: 'We went bowling after work,' but 'Her grandparents play bowls at the club.'

ten-pin bowlingbowlsskittles

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

Built in English from the verb 'bowl' and the suffix '-ing'. The older verb meant rolling or sending a ball in a game. From that base, 'bowling' came to name both the pin game played on a lane and, in cricket, the action or skill of sending the ball to the batter.