# shipping

/ˈʃɪpɪŋ/ (US) · /ʃˈɪpɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/shipping
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 2. delivery cost

noun · CEFR B1

the amount of money you pay to have an item delivered to you.

For teachers: the fee charged by a carrier or retailer for the postal or courier delivery of a purchased item.

- I wanted to buy the shoes, but the shipping was too expensive.
- The total price at checkout includes the base cost of the product plus international shipping and local import taxes.

### 3. ships collectively

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

all the ships belonging to a particular country or used in a specific area.

For teachers: the body of ships belonging to a nation, port, or industry; a collective noun for maritime vessels.

- The lighthouse was built to protect local shipping from the dangerous rocks.
- The treaty was designed to ensure the safety of merchant shipping in international waters during the conflict.

### 4. fandom romance

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

the act of supporting or wanting two characters or famous people to be in a relationship.

For teachers: the activity of supporting a romantic or sexual relationship between fictional characters or real-life celebrities, often within an online community.

- The shipping of the two main characters became a huge topic on social media.
- Fan fiction writers often engage in shipping, creating elaborate alternative universes where their favourite characters finally end up together.

Usage: Derived from the word 'relationship'.

Teaching tip: This is very common in online fan communities and social media; it is rarely used in professional or formal contexts.

### 5. sending out

verb · CEFR B1

the act of putting goods onto a vehicle to be sent away.

For teachers: the present participle of 'ship', referring to the physical act of dispatching goods or personnel.

- The warehouse staff are busy shipping orders before the holiday weekend.
- The manufacturer is currently shipping the new model to retailers across the country to meet the anticipated launch date.

## Examples

- I am shipping those two characters so hard right now.
- Fans of the show spent years shipping the two leads before the writers finally made them a couple.
- While some viewers find shipping to be a harmless way to engage with media, others argue it can lead to toxic behavior when fans harass actors over their real-life partners.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.