Meaning & use
skippering
Last updated
“skippering” is a form of “skipper”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meaning
verbintransitive
The act of being in charge of a boat or ship as its captain.
Grammar: Used as a gerund or present participle; it does not take a direct object here, but can be followed by a boat: skippering a yacht.
Patterns
- skippering a boat
- skippering for someone
She spent the summer skippering a small ferry between the islands.
Skippering requires good weather judgment and calm decision-making.
He enjoys skippering more than being a passenger.
Word forms
| third person singular | skippers |
|---|---|
| past tense | skippered |
| past participle | skippered |
| present participle | skippering |
Common combinations
- skippering a yacht
- He is skippering a yacht in the race next month.
- skippering the team
- She is skippering the team for the first time this season.
- skippering duties
- His skippering duties include checking the safety equipment.
Synonyms and how they differ
- captaining
- Captaining is more common in sports and general use; skippering is specific to boats.
- commanding
- Commanding suggests military authority and is broader; skippering is informal and nautical.
Word family
- skipper noun
- The person in charge of a boat or team.
- skippered adjective
- Describing a boat or team that has a skipper.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'skippering' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Skippering means being in charge of a boat, so it fits with 'the boat across the channel'. The other options use it for non-boating situations where it is not appropriate.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “skippering”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.