shoreline

noun

shore·​line ˈshȯr-ˌlīn How to pronounce shoreline (audio)
Synonyms of shorelinenext
1
: the line where a body of water and the shore meet
2
: the strip of land along the shoreline

Examples of shoreline in a Sentence

The road runs along the shoreline.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Hudson wrapped her arms around her sons beneath a straw beach umbrella as the trio embraced near the shoreline. — Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 6 July 2026 Surfers paddle through rolling waves, families crowding the shoreline, and tourists taking photos of the view. — Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 Hawai’i is home to a variety of beaches, from white sandy beaches to rocky shorelines; a day at the beach can differ greatly from one area to another. — Laurie Lyons-Makaimoku, Travel + Leisure, 8 July 2026 The two shoreline explorers were out for a languid stroll in their bathing suits on the tip of Conimicut Point. — Mark Reynolds, The Providence Journal, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for shoreline

Word History

First Known Use

1852, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shoreline was in 1852

Rhymes for shoreline

See All Rhymes for shoreline

Browse Nearby Words

shoreless
shoreline
Shoreline
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shoreline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shoreline. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

shoreline

noun
shore·​line -ˌlīn How to pronounce shoreline (audio)
: the line where a body of water touches the shore

Geographical Definition

Shoreline

geographical name

Shore·​line ˈshȯr-ˌlīn How to pronounce Shoreline (audio)
city in west central Washington on Puget Sound north of Seattle population 53,007

More from Merriam-Webster on shoreline

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for shoreline

Nglish: Translation of shoreline for Spanish Speakers

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