Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

shipshape

/ˈʃɪpˌʃeɪp/

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 1.85 in modern English

Syllables: ship-shape
IPA: /ˈʃɪpˌʃeɪp/

19

Scrabble Score

9

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Meticulously neat and tidy.

adv

Neatly and tidily to a meticulous extent.

Example Sentences

"SHIP-shape, in a seaman-like manner; as "That mast is not rigged ship-shape;" "Put her about ship-shape," &c."
"[I]t would have been more ship-shape to lower the bight of a rope, or a running bow-line, below me, than to seize an old sea-man by his head-lanyard; [...]"
"When we set out on the jolly voyage of life, what a brave fleet there is around us, as stretching our fresh canvas to the breeze, all "shipshape and Bristol fashion," pennons flying, music playing, cheering each other as we pass, we are rather amused than alarmed when some awkward comrade goes right ashore for want of pilotage!"
"[G]lad to see you, gentlemen—steerage not quite shipshape at present—overhauling ship, you see; but when we once get under way, get things shipshape, you know."
"Annie, my girl, cheer up, be comforted, / Look to the babes, and till I come again, / Keep everything shipshape, for I must go."
"Well, Captain Smollett, what have you to say? All well, I hope; all shipshape and seaworthy?"

Etymology

From ship + shapen (“shaped; wrought with a definite shape”), later shortened to shape. The word is of nautical origin, based on the obligation of a sailor to keep his or her quarters arranged neatly and securely due to the limited space typically allotted to service members aboard ship, and against turbulence at sea.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈʃɪpˌʃeɪp/
British English: /ˈʃɪpʃeɪp/

Inflected Forms

more shipshape (comparative) most shipshape (superlative) ship-shape (alternative)

Derived Forms

shipshapely unshipshape

Phrases

Bristol fashion and shipshape shipshape and Bristol fashion

Synonyms

shipshape and Bristol fashion tight all Sir Garnet Bristol fashion and shipshape in order neat neat and tidy neat as a new pin neat as a pin nice as ninepence orderly prest

Antonyms

chaotic cluttered disorderly messy ree-raw riotous sluttish tempestuous tumultuary tumultuous turbulent untidy

Questions

How do you pronounce shipshape?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈʃɪpˌʃeɪp/.
What does shipshape mean?: Meticulously neat and tidy.
Where does shipshape come from?: From ship + shapen (“shaped; wrought with a definite shape”), later shortened to shape. The word is of nautical origin, based on the obligation of a sailor to keep his or her quarters arranged neatly and securely due to the limited space typically allotted to service members aboard ship, and against turbulence at sea.

How to pronounce shipshape

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “shipshape”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈʃɪpˌʃeɪp/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “shipshape”.
Repeat and practice — Say “shipshape” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.