shipping

noun

ship·​ping ˈshi-piŋ How to pronounce shipping (audio)
Synonyms of shippingnext
1
a
: passage on a ship
b
: ships
c
: the body of ships in one place or belonging to one port or country
2
: the act or business of one that ships

Examples of shipping in a Sentence

The fruit was ready for shipping. They protected our shipping from submarines during wartime.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The biggest hurdles facing African suppliers, the trade group argued, aren’t so much tariffs but rather poor local infrastructure, complex regulations, lack of funding and shipping bottlenecks. Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 19 May 2026 The operator of the third-busiest cargo port in the United States has agreed to invest $8 million or more for a feasibility study into deepening and widening the 33-mile-long shipping channel. Adam Van Brimmer, AJC.com, 19 May 2026 Cars can use cleaner fuels; shipping and logistics can choose lower-emission options; and more buildings can use renewable energy. Caitlin Grady, The Conversation, 19 May 2026 At one point, our reporters were given a November shipping date. Elizabeth Robinson, NBC news, 19 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for shipping

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of shipping was in the 14th century

Cite this Entry

“Shipping.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shipping. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

shipping

noun
ship·​ping
ˈship-iŋ
1
: the body of ships in one place or belonging to one port or country
2
: the act or business of one that ships goods
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