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."
"We watched the bowls match on the village green."
"He has played bowls at the club since he retired."
How to use bowls
Learner’s notesIn 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.
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like bowls.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Her grandparents play lawn _____ every Sunday afternoon.
Synonyms
View more →
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.
