A ship is a large watercraft designed to travel across oceans and seas. Ships differ from smaller boats in their size, strength, and ability to handle long voyages through rough waters. Ancient civilizations built ships to explore distant lands, trade goods like spices and silk, and sometimes wage wars. For thousands of years, ships were the only way to cross oceans, making them essential to human progress and connection.

Modern ships serve many purposes. Cargo ships carry containers full of products between continents. Cruise ships function as floating hotels, taking passengers on ocean vacations. Naval ships serve in military fleets. Research ships help scientists study the ocean depths. Some ships are massive: the largest container ships can carry over 20,000 shipping containers stacked like building blocks.

As a verb, ship means to send something somewhere, usually by mail or delivery service. When you order something online, the company ships it to your house. A business might ship products to stores across the country. You might tell a friend, “I'll ship you that book I mentioned.”