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noun Uncommon

bowls

bohlz

Bowls (noun) means a precision outdoor sport in which players roll weighted balls to land as close as possible to a smaller target ball. Example: “Her grandparents play lawn bowls every Sunday afternoon.”

noun
1
A precision outdoor sport in which players roll weighted balls to land as close as possible to a smaller target ball.
"Her grandparents play lawn bowls every Sunday afternoon."

How to use bowls

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA lawn game where you roll biased balls toward a small target ball.

UK vs US

Bowls is especially popular in the UK, Australia, and New Zealand; Americans are more likely to know tenpin bowling.

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Her grandparents play lawn _____ every Sunday afternoon.

lawn bowling bocce

Related words

Rhymes for bowls

See all rhymes for bowls →

Frequently asked questions

What does “bowls” mean?

The word “bowls” means a precision outdoor sport in which players roll weighted balls to land as close as possible to a smaller target ball. In plain terms, a lawn game where you roll biased balls toward a small target ball.

How do you pronounce “bowls”?

“Bowls” is pronounced bohlz (/boʊlz/ in IPA).

How do you use “bowls” in a sentence?

Here is “bowls” used in a sentence: “Her grandparents play lawn bowls every Sunday afternoon.”

What part of speech is “bowls”?

“Bowls” is a noun.

Is “bowls” a common word?

“Bowls” is an uncommon word in modern English.

What is the difference between bowls and bocce?

Bowls is a precision outdoor sport where players roll weighted balls to land as close as possible to a smaller target ball, typically played on a flat grass or synthetic green. Bocce is a similar Italian sport with the same basic goal but is traditionally played on a different type of court and often with different ball sizes and rules.

Is bowls the same as lawn bowling?

Yes, bowls and lawn bowling refer to the same sport, in which players roll weighted balls across a green toward a smaller target ball called the jack. "Bowls" is the more common term in the UK and Commonwealth countries.

Why is the sport called "bowls" even though it involves balls?

The sport is called bowls because the weighted balls used are traditionally referred to as "bowls," a term rooted in the game's long history, rather than being called simply "balls." The name of the equipment became the name of the sport itself.

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