Ship vs. Send: What's the Difference?
Edited by Harlon Moss || By Janet White || Updated on October 19, 2023
"Ship" specifically refers to transporting goods, while "send" is a broader term for causing something to go or be taken somewhere.
Key Differences
"Ship" is a term often used in the context of commerce or logistics, where goods, products, or commodities are transported from one place to another, typically involving longer distances or different regions. "Send," on the other hand, implies causing or ordering something to go somewhere, which could be an item, a message, or even a person, and it doesn't necessarily specify the means of transportation or the distance involved.
When someone opts to "ship" a product, it usually involves packaging, courier services, or freight carriers, indicating a structured process, often with the implication of a transaction or commerce. Conversely, to "send" does not necessarily involve a physical object; one can send an email, send a representative, or send thoughts and prayers, making "send" a more versatile word.
"Shipping" often carries the connotation of a journey, suggesting a process that takes time, possibly over vast distances, and it's more commonly used in a business context. "Sending" can be instantaneous, especially in the digital age (like sending a message or photo), and is a more common term in personal and informal contexts.
In terms of scale and formality, "shipping" is usually more formal and used for larger scale movements, like shipping a container of products overseas. "Sending," however, can be formal or informal, large or small scale, from sending a letter to sending aid to another country.
"Ship" also has a secondary meaning as a large waterborne vessel, but in the context of "ship" versus "send," it's used as a verb. "Send" does not share this kind of noun-verb duality, which makes "ship" a more context-dependent word.
ADVERTISEMENT
Comparison Chart
Context
Commercial, logistical
Broader, any context
Objects
Usually physical goods
Physical or intangible items
Connotation
Journey, process
Delivery, transfer
Speed
Implies some duration
Can be instantaneous
Versatility
More specific
More versatile
ADVERTISEMENT
Ship and Send Definitions
Ship
To take in (water) over the side, as a vessel does.
The boat was shipping water.
Send
To cause to go or be conveyed to another place.
I'll send the documents over right away.
Ship
To accept or put up with; tolerate.
She's not sure she can ship the pressures of the job.
Send
To dispatch a message or letter.
Did you send the email to the client?
Ship
A vessel of considerable size for deep-water navigation.
Send
To cause to be conveyed by an intermediary to a destination
Send goods by plane.
Ship
A sailing vessel having three or more square-rigged masts.
Send
To dispatch, as by a communications medium
Send a message by radio.
Ship
An aircraft or spacecraft.
Send
To direct to go on a mission
Sent troops into the Middle East.
Ship
The crew of one of these vessels.
Send
To require or enable to go
Sent her children to college.
Ship
One's fortune
When my ship comes in, I'll move to a larger house.
Send
To direct (a person) to a source of information; refer
Sent the student to the reference section of the library.
Ship
To place or receive on board a ship
Shipped the cargo in the hold.
Send
To give off (heat, for example); emit or issue
A stove that sends forth great warmth.
Ship
To cause to be transported; send.
Send
To utter or otherwise emit (sound)
Sent forth a cry of pain.
Ship
(nautical) A water-borne vessel generally larger than a boat.
Send
To hit so as to direct or propel with force; drive
The batter sent the ball to left field. The slap on my back sent me staggering.
Ship
A vessel which travels through any medium other than across land, such as an airship or spaceship.
Send
To cause to take place or occur
We will meet whatever vicissitudes fate may send.
Ship
A spaceship (the type of pattern in a cellular automaton).
Send
To put or drive into a given state or condition
Horrifying news that sent them into a panic.
Ship
A sailing vessel with three or more square-rigged masts.
Send
(Slang) To transport with delight; carry away
That music really sends me.
Ship
A dish or utensil (originally fashioned like the hull of a ship) used to hold incense.
Send
To dispatch someone to do an errand or convey a message
Let's send out for hamburgers.
Ship
(cartomancy) The third card of the Lenormand deck.
Send
To dispatch a request or order, especially by mail
Send away for a new catalogue.
Ship
(dated) An aircraft.
Send
To transmit a message or messages
The radio operator was still sending when the ship went down.
Ship
(fandom) A fictional romantic relationship between two characters, either real or themselves fictional, especially one explored in fan fiction.
Send
Variant of scend.
Ship
(transitive) To send by water-borne transport.
Send
To make something (such as an object or message) go from one place to another (or to someone).
Every day at two o'clock, he sends his secretary out to buy him a coffee.
She sends me a letter every month.
Ship
(transitive) To send (a parcel or container) to a recipient (by any means of transport).
To ship freight by railroad
Send
To excite, delight, or thrill (someone).
Ship
(ambitransitive) To release a product (not necessarily physical) to vendors or customers; to launch.
Our next issue ships early next year.
It compiles? Ship it!
Send
(transitive) To bring to a certain condition.
Ship
(ambitransitive) To engage to serve on board a vessel.
To ship seamen
I shipped on a man-of-war.
Send
To dispatch an agent or messenger to convey a message or do an errand.
Seeing how ill she was, we sent for a doctor at once.
Ship
(intransitive) To embark on a ship.
Send
(transitive) To cause to be or to happen; to bring, bring about; (archaic) to visit: (Referring to blessing or reward) To bestow; to grant. (Referring to curse or punishment) To inflict. Sometimes followed by a dependent proposition.
Ship
To put or secure in its place.
To ship the tiller or rudder
Send
To pitch.
Ship
(transitive) To take in (water) over the sides of a vessel.
We were shipping so much water I was sure we would capsize.
Send
To make a successful ascent of a sport climbing route.
She finally sent the 12a after hours of failed attempts.
Ship
Leave, depart, scram.
Send
To care.
Ship
To pass (from one person to another).
Can you ship me the ketchup?
Send
(telecommunications) An operation in which data is transmitted.
Ship
To go all in.
Send
An icon (usually on a computer screen and labeled with the word "Send") on which one clicks (with a mouse or its equivalent) or taps to transmit an email or other electronic message.
Good thing I didn't hit send on that resume; I just noticed a bad typo.
Ship
(sports) To trade or send a player to another team.
Twins ship Delmon Young to Tigers.
Send
(nautical) scend
Ship
(rugby) To bungle a kick and give the opposing team possession.
Send
(Scotland) A messenger, especially one sent to fetch the bride.
Ship
(fandom) To support or approve of a fictional romantic relationship between two characters, typically in fan fiction or other fandom contexts.
I ship Kirk and Spock in “Star Trek”.
I ship Peggy and Angie in “Marvel's Agent Carter”.
Send
A callout or diss usually aimed at a specific person, often in the form of a diss track.
Ship
Pay; reward.
In withholding or abridging of the ship or the hire or the wages of servants.
Send
(climbing) A successful ascent of a sport climbing route.
Ship
Any large seagoing vessel.
Like a stately ship . . . With all her bravery on, and tackle trim,Sails filled, and streamers waving.
Thou, too, sail on, O Ship of State!
Send
To cause to go in any manner; to dispatch; to commission or direct to go; as, to send a messenger.
I have not sent these prophets, yet they ran.
I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.
Servants, sent on messages, stay out somewhat longer than the message requires.
Ship
Specifically, a vessel furnished with a bowsprit and three masts (a mainmast, a foremast, and a mizzenmast), each of which is composed of a lower mast, a topmast, and a topgallant mast, and square-rigged on all masts. See Illustation in Appendix.
Send
To give motion to; to cause to be borne or carried; to procure the going, transmission, or delivery of; as, to send a message.
He . . . sent letters by posts on horseback.
O send out thy light an thy truth; let them lead me.
Ship
A dish or utensil (originally fashioned like the hull of a ship) used to hold incense.
Send
To emit; to impel; to cast; to throw; to hurl; as, to send a ball, an arrow, or the like.
Ship
To put on board of a ship, or vessel of any kind, for transportation; to send by water.
The timber was . . . shipped in the bay of Attalia, from whence it was by sea transported to Pelusium.
Send
To cause to be or to happen; to bestow; to inflict; to grant; - sometimes followed by a dependent proposition.
The Lord shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke.
And sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
God send your mission may bring back peace.
Ship
By extension, in commercial usage, to commit to any conveyance for transportation to a distance; as, to ship freight by railroad.
Send
To dispatch an agent or messenger to convey a message, or to do an errand.
See ye how this son of a murderer hath sent to take away my head?
Ship
Hence, to send away; to get rid of.
Send
To pitch; as, the ship sends forward so violently as to endanger her masts.
Ship
To engage or secure for service on board of a ship; as, to ship seamen.
Send
The impulse of a wave by which a vessel is carried bodily.
Ship
To receive on board ship; as, to ship a sea.
Send
Cause to go somewhere;
The explosion sent the car flying in the air
She sent her children to camp
He directed all his energies into his dissertation
Ship
To put in its place; as, to ship the tiller or rudder.
Send
To cause or order to be taken, directed, or transmitted to another place;
He had sent the dispatches downtown to the proper people and had slept
Ship
To engage to serve on board of a vessel; as, to ship on a man-of-war.
Send
Cause to be directed or transmitted to another place;
Send me your latest results
I'll mail you the paper when it's written
Ship
To embark on a ship.
Send
Transport commercially
Ship
A vessel that carries passengers or freight
Send
Assign to a station
Ship
Transport commercially
Send
Transfer;
The spy sent the classified information off to Russia
Ship
Hire for work on a ship
Send
Cause to be admitted; of persons to an institution;
After the second episode, she had to be committed
He was committed to prison
Ship
Go on board
Send
Broadcast over the airwaves, as in radio or television;
We cannot air this X-rated song
Ship
Travel by ship
Send
To cause to be emitted or transmitted.
The radio tower sends signals over a wide area.
Ship
Place on board a ship;
Ship the cargo in the hold of the vessel
Send
To order or compel to go.
She was sent to the principal's office for talking back.
Ship
To transport goods or cargo by any mode of transport.
They will ship the furniture to your new house.
Send
To arrange for the delivery of.
He sent flowers to her office.
Ship
To send (a person or thing) to another place.
They shipped the defective parts back to the factory.
FAQs
Can "send" refer to giving authority?
Yes, like when you send someone as a representative.
Can you "ship" a text message?
Normally, no. "Shipping" typically involves tangible goods, not digital communication.
Does "ship" imply the use of a shipping company?
Typically, yes, especially in a commercial context.
Can "send" be used in a spiritual context?
Yes, people often talk about sending prayers or positive thoughts.
Does "send" imply communication?
Often, yes, especially in the context of sending messages or information.
Does "to ship" always involve a transaction?
Often, but not always. It can be used any time goods are transported.
Does "send" need a specific destination?
Not always; it can be general or unspecified.
Is "shipping" used for international transport?
Yes, it's commonly used for both domestic and international transport of goods.
Is "shipping" a modern term?
It's old, but its use in e-commerce is modern.
Can "send" imply a forceful action?
Yes, as in "He sent the ball flying."
Is "sending" always about physical movement?
No, it can also refer to the transmission of information or feelings.
Can "ship" refer to air transport?
Yes, "ship" isn't exclusive to maritime transport and can refer to air, rail, or road transport.
Can "ship" also mean to start a romantic relationship?
Informally, yes, especially in fandom communities.
Can you "ship" an idea?
Not conventionally. "Ship" usually involves tangible items.
Can "sending" have emotional connotations?
Yes, like sending love or condolences.
Is "send" related to the sender's control?
Often, yes. The sender is the one initiating the action.
Is "shipping" only for physical goods?
Primarily, yes. It's not used for digital products.
Is "shipping" a formal term?
It's more formal and commonly used in business.
Can "send" mean to cause or compel?
Yes, like sending someone into laughter.
Can "send" be passive?
Yes, in constructions like "The letter was sent."
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
