list

"List" is a very common and useful English word with a few distinct meanings. Most of the time you will see it as a noun or a verb, but it also has a lesser-known nautical sense. Here are the most important ones.

1nouna series of items written down

A list is a collection of things written or said one after another, usually in a line or numbered order. Think of it as a way to organize information — like writing down everything you need to buy at the supermarket.

everyday language · Modern, widely used

She wrote a list of all the ingredients she needed for the recipe.

The teacher gave the students a list of vocabulary words to study.

I always make a to-do list in the morning so I don't forget anything.

2verbto write or say items one by one

When you list things, you name or write them one after another in an organized way. Imagine someone reading out the names of students in a class — they are listing the names.

everyday language · Modern, widely used

Can you list the countries you have visited?

The report lists all the problems found during the inspection.

He listed his skills on his resume to impress the employer.

3verbto tilt to one side (of a ship)

When a ship lists, it leans or tilts to one side — usually because of damage, uneven weight, or strong waves. You would mostly hear this word used in news reports about ships or in stories set at sea.

nautical / maritime · Modern, used in specific contexts

The damaged ship began to list badly after hitting the rocks.

The cargo shifted during the storm, causing the vessel to list to the left.

Passengers were alarmed when the cruise ship started to list suddenly.

4nouna tilt or lean to one side

As a noun, a list refers to the angle at which a ship is leaning to one side. If someone says a ship has a 'list to starboard', it means the ship is tilting toward the right side.

nautical / maritime · Modern, used in specific contexts

The ship had a dangerous list of 30 degrees after the collision.

The crew worked quickly to correct the list before the ship capsized.

A slight list was noticed as the passengers all moved to one side of the deck.