What does skiing mean?
Skiing is the activity of moving across snow while standing on two long runners called skis. It can be practised on groomed pistes, on natural mountain slopes, or across flatter terrain using cross-country equipment. The word is also used as a present participle, as in a phrase such as “skiing season,” where it describes an activity associated with the subject. Skiing includes several forms, including alpine skiing, which emphasizes downhill descents, and cross-country skiing, which uses skis for travel over relatively flat or rolling terrain. The word is international and is used in English-speaking countries with suitable winter conditions. Its vocabulary reflects its Scandinavian origins and the equipment central to the sport.
The sport or activity of travelling over snow on skis.
"Skiing is popular in the region during the cold winter months."
Usually uncountable when referring to the activity in general, though a skiing trip, ski trip, or skiing holiday is also common.
To travel over snow on skis.
"They skied down the slope after the storm."
Most commonly encountered as the present participle skiing; skied is the standard past tense.
Skiing takes its name from a Scandinavian word for a long wooden runner, once used for travelling over snow.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does skiing come from?
The word skiing derives from the English borrowing ski, which comes from Norwegian ski, meaning “a long wooden runner used for gliding over snow.” Norwegian itself reflects an Old Norse word, skí, with a similar meaning. Related forms in English include skier and skis, while skid also comes through Scandinavian vocabulary and historically referred to a runner or braking device associated with sledges and skis.
Related word forms
How skiing is actually used
Skiing is commonly used as an uncountable noun when referring to the activity. As a verb, it usually appears in the present participle form skiing rather than as a finite form; in formal or literary contexts, skied is also used for the past tense.