bowling ball: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1informal (general use), technical (sporting context)
Quick answer
What does “bowling ball” mean?
A heavy, hard sphere with finger holes, used to knock down pins in the sport of bowling.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A heavy, hard sphere with finger holes, used to knock down pins in the sport of bowling.
May be used metaphorically to refer to something heavy, round, and destructive, or as slang for a difficult problem or situation that 'rolls over' obstacles.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is identical, but the sport's cultural prominence differs. In the UK, 'bowling' more commonly refers to lawn bowls, whereas 'tenpin bowling' is specified. In the US, 'bowling' is assumed to be tenpin.
Connotations
US: Strongly associated with recreational leagues, popular culture, and working-class leisure. UK: Often associated with American culture, birthday parties, or 'tenpin bowling' as a specific activity.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American English due to the sport's greater popularity.
Grammar
How to Use “bowling ball” in a Sentence
[Verb] a bowling ball (roll, throw, lift, drop)[Adjective] bowling ball (heavy, sixteen-pound, plastic, urethane)[Preposition] the bowling ball (with, without, like a)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bowling ball” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- He selected a fourteen-pound bowling ball from the rack.
- The ball return mechanism got stuck with her new bowling ball inside.
American English
- She bought a custom bowling ball with her name engraved on it.
- Heavier bowling balls can drive through the pins more effectively.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Potentially in logistics ('shipping these is like moving bowling balls').
Academic
Limited to physics (discussions of mass, momentum, kinetics) or sports science.
Everyday
Common when discussing the sport or using the metaphor for something heavy and round.
Technical
Specific to bowling equipment (coverstock, core dynamics, RG rating).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bowling ball”
- Using 'bowling ball' to refer to the game itself (e.g., 'Let's play bowling ball' is incorrect).
- Misspelling as 'bowlingball' (should be two words).
- Incorrect preposition: 'He hit the pins by the bowling ball' (should be 'with the bowling ball').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is two separate words: 'bowling ball'.
No. 'Bowling ball' refers only to the piece of equipment. The sport is simply 'bowling' (or 'tenpin bowling').
Both imply force, but a 'cannonball' suggests projectile speed and impact from a distance, while a 'bowling ball' suggests heavy, rolling, grounded momentum that plows through a series of obstacles (like pins).
Yes, primarily differentiated by coverstock material (plastic, urethane, reactive resin) and internal core design, which affect how the ball rolls and hooks on the lane.
A heavy, hard sphere with finger holes, used to knock down pins in the sport of bowling.
Bowling ball is usually informal (general use), technical (sporting context) in register.
Bowling ball: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbəʊ.lɪŋ ˌbɔːl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈboʊ.lɪŋ ˌbɑːl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Informal] like a bowling ball through pins (effortlessly destructive)”
- “[Slang] a real bowling ball (a difficult, unavoidable problem)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
BOWLING BALL: Big, Round, Object With Lugging INtent, Grinding And Lowing Lanes. (Helps remember it's heavy and used for bowling.)
Conceptual Metaphor
A PROBLEM IS A BOWLING BALL ('That project is a real bowling ball—it just rolls over every deadline we set.')
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'bowling ball' metaphorically used to describe?