bowling: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1Neutral
Quick answer
What does “bowling” mean?
The game of rolling a heavy ball down a lane to knock down pins.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The game of rolling a heavy ball down a lane to knock down pins.
The action or sport of propelling a ball towards a target, including variations such as lawn bowling or ten-pin bowling. Also used in cricket to describe the act of delivering the ball to the batsman.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'bowling' alone often refers to 'lawn bowling' (on grass, also called 'bowls'). In American English, 'bowling' unambiguously means 'ten-pin bowling'. Brits often specify 'ten-pin bowling'.
Connotations
UK: Often associated with older adults (lawn bowling) or a specific American-style leisure activity (ten-pin). US: Strongly associated with casual socialising, family entertainment, and league sports.
Frequency
High frequency in US English due to cultural prevalence. Moderate in UK English, with context needed.
Grammar
How to Use “bowling” in a Sentence
[go] bowling[play] bowling[be] bowling (cricket)[do some] bowlingVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bowling” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He was bowling a perfect line and length in the cricket match.
- We might bowl a few ends on the green this afternoon.
American English
- She bowls every Thursday in her league.
- He bowled a perfect 300 game last night.
adverb
British English
- The ball travelled bowling-speed towards the wicket.
- (Rare as adverb)
American English
- He threw the ball bowling-style down the hallway. (Informal)
- (Rare as adverb)
adjective
British English
- He bought new bowling shoes for the club.
- The bowling green was immaculately kept.
American English
- They met at a bowling alley in Chicago.
- His bowling average improved this season.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to corporate team-building events, e.g., 'We booked the bowling alley for the sales team.'
Academic
Rare. Possibly in sports science studies or cultural anthropology papers on leisure activities.
Everyday
Common for discussing weekend plans, hobbies, or sports. 'The kids want to go bowling on Saturday.'
Technical
In cricket commentary: 'His bowling action is under scrutiny.' In sports engineering: 'bowling ball dynamics'.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bowling”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bowling”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bowling”
- Incorrect: 'I play bowling.' (Common learner error) Correct: 'I go bowling.' or 'I bowl.'
- Confusing 'bowling' (sport) with 'bow' (ribbon or gesture).
- Using 'bowling' as a countable noun: 'We played three bowlings.' (Incorrect)
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Bowling' is the general activity or sport. 'Bowls' (or 'lawn bowls') specifically refers to the British game played on a flat green, often outdoors.
Yes, 'to bowl' is the verb. In sports: 'He bowls for the national team.' In leisure: 'We bowl every week.'
Yes, in cricket it refers to the action of delivering the ball to the batsman. Metaphorically, it can mean moving rapidly ('bowling along the road').
It's a lexical collocation. For many recreational activities we use 'go + verb-ing' (go swimming, go skiing). 'Play' is used with games that have a ball and teams/sides (play football, play chess).
The game of rolling a heavy ball down a lane to knock down pins.
Bowling is usually neutral in register.
Bowling: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbəʊ.lɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈboʊ.lɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Life isn't all beer and skittles (UK variant: ...and bowling)”
- “to be on a roll (metaphor from bowling)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
BOWLING has a BALL that you ROLL. Both words have double 'L's.
Conceptual Metaphor
Knocking down pins metaphor for achieving goals sequentially ('She's bowling over her objectives one by one').
Practice
Quiz
In British English, if someone says 'I play bowls', what are they most likely referring to?