skiing

skiing — noun

1. the pastime or competitive activity in which a person glides across snow with lo

1.nounA2
Definition

the pastime or competitive activity in which a person glides across snow with long narrow boards strapped to their boots

Example

Mert goes skiing with his family every winter in Austria.

go + skiing for a regular winter activity

The children took skiing lessons at the mountain resort last weekend.

take + skiing lessons for learning how to ski

Common collocations
  • go skiing
  • skiing lessons
  • skiing trip
  • skiing holiday
  • take up skiing
Synonyms
  • ski sport

    a broader category that includes cross-country, downhill, and other types of skiing

  • snowboarding

    a related winter sport using a single board instead of two skis; not the same activity

Grammar Patterns

skiing as a gerund subject or object

go + skiing

Usage Note

As an uncountable noun, skiing is never used with 'a' or 'an' (❌ 'a skiing'). It is also a gerund — the -ing form of the verb 'ski' — so it can follow verbs like 'go' and 'take up' without an article.

Common Mistakes

I like ski.
I like skiing.
'ski' is the verb; the name of the activity is 'skiing'.
I went to a skiing.
I went skiing.
'skiing' is uncountable and does not take 'a'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All three are winter activities on snow or ice, but they use different equipment and techniques. Skiing uses two long narrow boards (skis) with poles for balance and speed. Snowboarding uses a single wide board and the rider stands sideways. Ice skating takes place on an ice surface with blades attached to boots. For example: 'Mert prefers skiing down mountain slopes, but his sister enjoys snowboarding.' 'Ice skating on a frozen lake is different from skiing on a snowy hill.'

skiing ↗snowboarding ↗ice skating

Etymology

Old NorseNorwegianEnglish

The word 'skiing' comes from 'ski', which entered English in the mid-1700s from the Norwegian word 'ski' — itself from the Old Norse 'skíð', meaning a long wooden board split from a log. People in snowy regions have used skis for transport for thousands of years. The modern sport of recreational skiing grew in popularity in the late 1800s and early 1900s in Alpine Europe.