What does bowling mean?
Bowling is an indoor sport in which players roll a heavy ball along a long, polished wooden lane with the aim of knocking down a set of pins arranged in a triangle at the far end. The most widespread form, tenpin bowling, is played socially, competitively, and in organized leagues, with scoring based on strikes and spares. In cricket, 'bowling' has a distinct meaning: the act of delivering the ball toward the batter's wicket. The word carries relaxed, recreational connotations — bowling alleys are associated with casual socializing, family outings, and league camaraderie — though professional bowling remains a serious competitive pursuit. Its long history spans ancient forms of pin games to the standardized modern game, making it one of the most familiar participatory sports worldwide.
nounAn indoor game in which a heavy ball is rolled down a polished wooden lane to knock down ten pins; also, the act or sport of rolling such a ball.
- The indoor game of rolling a heavy ball down a lane to knock over pins (tenpins).
- The act of delivering a ball toward pins or, in cricket, toward the wicket.
"They spent Friday evening at a bowling alley celebrating her promotion."
"We joined a bowling league that meets every Tuesday night."
"His bowling improved dramatically once he learned to keep his wrist straight on release."
Rarely pluralized; the uncountable singular is standard for the game, and the plural appears only when counting individual instances or rounds.
"Several friendly bowlings were held over the weekend."
Bowling lanes were once so popular that in mid-century America more people went bowling each week than voted in presidential elections.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bowling
The noun 'bowling' derives from the verb 'bowl', which entered Middle English from Old French 'boule' meaning a ball, ultimately tracing back to the Latin 'bulla', a bubble or rounded object. The game itself predates the English word by centuries, with pin-throwing games attested across medieval Europe before being formalized in Germany and the Low Countries. English settlers carried the game to America, where tenpin bowling was codified in the nineteenth century. Related words sharing this lineage include 'boule' (the French ball used in pétanque) and 'bullet', via the diminutive 'boulette'.
Related word forms
How bowling is actually used
In American English 'bowling' almost always means tenpin bowling; in British English it can also refer to lawn bowls, and 'bowling' in cricket contexts denotes the delivery of the ball by a bowler rather than batting.
Easily confused with bowling
A 'bowl' is either a round dish or the act of rolling a ball in cricket or at pins, whereas 'bowling' is the name of the activity itself.
'Bowel' refers to part of the intestine and differs from 'bowling' by one vowel sound despite their similar spelling.