Word
shipping
Phoneticsship·ping, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈʃɪpɪŋ/
UK/ʃˈɪpɪŋ/
Definitions
01transporting goods
B1 · Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. the process of sending goods or packages from one place to another, usually by truck, plane, or ship.
n. the act or business of transporting goods, especially by sea or commercial carrier.
日本語:発送※
“The company offers free shipping on all orders over fifty dollars.”
“Global shipping was severely disrupted by the port strike, causing significant delays in the delivery of seasonal electronics.”
02delivery cost
A2 · Elementary Uncountable noun
n. the amount of money you pay to have something delivered to you.
n. the fee charged for the transport and delivery of goods.
“I wanted to buy the shoes, but the shipping was too expensive.”
“Customers often abandon their digital shopping carts when they realise the international shipping exceeds the value of the items themselves.”
Synonyms
03fandom romance
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Slang · Informal
n. when fans want two characters or famous people to be in a romantic relationship.
n. the act of supporting or wishing for a romantic relationship between two people, typically fictional characters or celebrities.
“There is a lot of shipping of the two main characters on social media.”
“The show's writers were accused of pandering to the audience by making a popular fan shipping canon in the final season.”
Usage
Derived from the word 'relationship'; often used in online communities and social media.
Teaching tip
This sense is very common in internet culture; learners should be aware it is not appropriate for professional or academic contexts.
Synonyms
04ships collectively
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Technical
n. all the ships belonging to a particular country or industry.
n. ships considered collectively, especially those belonging to a specific nation, port, or commercial sector.
“The government is investing more money to protect merchant shipping in the area.”
“The new environmental regulations will apply to all commercial shipping operating within the country's territorial waters.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “shipping” in context.
Verb
01. calculate the shipping costs
“The website will automatically calculate the shipping costs based on your zip code.”
verb + noun + noun
02. offer free shipping
“Many online retailers offer free shipping on orders over fifty dollars to encourage larger purchases.”
verb + adj + noun
Adjective
03. expedited shipping
“If you need the package by tomorrow, you should select expedited shipping at checkout.”
adj + noun
04. international shipping
“International shipping can be quite expensive due to customs duties and long-distance freight charges.”
adj + noun
Noun
05. shipping confirmation
“You should receive a shipping confirmation email as soon as your order leaves our warehouse.”
noun + noun
06. shipping industry
“The global shipping industry is facing new regulations to reduce carbon emissions from cargo vessels.”
noun + noun
Preposition
07. in shipping
“The fragile vase was unfortunately damaged in shipping despite the bubble wrap.”
prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“The low levels of the Danube, Europe’s second-longest river, have also severely affected shipping along its 2,850km (1,770 mile) route stretching from western Germany to the Black Sea.” “The deadly strikes are part of a long-running maritime battle with Ukraine and echo battles over other key shipping routes around the world.” “The Tihamah attack comes amid an ongoing near-total shipping freeze in the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway linking the wider world to multiple Gulf States, including Iran and Oman.” “Iran did not acknowledge being responsible, but shipping analysts have said it was likely to have been behind the Minoan Pioneer attack on 3 August.” Etymology
From Middle English schipping, schyppynge, from schippen, schipen (“to take ship, navigate”), from Old English scipian (“to take ship; put in order, equip, man a ship”), equivalent to ship + -ing.
From ship + -ing.
Clipping of relationshipping.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/shipping
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「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0