What does bowl mean?
A bowl is a deep, typically round vessel with sloping sides, used for serving, mixing, or eating food and liquid. It is one of the most fundamental household objects, appearing in kitchens, dining tables, and rituals across cultures. Beyond its literal meaning, the word extends into sport — a bowl is a ball rolled toward a target in games such as ten-pin bowling, lawn bowls, or cricket, where 'to bowl' means delivering the ball. In American usage, 'bowl' also names major college football games and their stadiums, most famously the Super Bowl. The word carries a homely, everyday connotation, yet it spans contexts from cooking to athletics to entertainment, making it a versatile and widely understood term across British and American English.
A round, deep dish or basin used for food, liquid, or other contents.
"She served the soup in a wide ceramic bowl."
To roll, throw, or deliver a ball along the ground, especially in cricket or bowling.
"He bowled a fast delivery that beat the batsman entirely."
The plural 'bowls' refers either to multiple vessels or, in British English, to the lawn game itself.
"She stacked the clean bowls on the shelf after washing them."
The word 'bowl' has been around so long it traces back over a thousand years to Old English 'bolla', meaning a rounded vessel — making it one of the oldest surviving words for a household object.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bowl
The noun 'bowl' derives from the Old English 'bolla' or 'bolle', meaning a round vessel or cup, which is related to similar words in other Germanic languages. Its use as a verb describing the rolling of a ball emerged later, tied to medieval and early modern games of bowls and skittles. A distinct sense referring to a large stadium arose in twentieth-century America, popularised by events such as the Rose Bowl. Cognate forms appear in related Germanic words denoting rounded objects.
Word family
Usage notes
As a noun, 'bowl' is neutral in register and common in everyday speech. As a verb, 'to bowl' appears chiefly in sporting contexts, particularly cricket and ten-pin bowling. The plural 'bowls' can also refer specifically to the lawn game played with biased balls, common in Britain and Commonwealth countries.
Don't confuse with
Bawl means to shout or cry loudly, while bowl refers to a rounded dish or the act of rolling a ball.