beach

1 of 2

noun

ˈbēch How to pronounce beach (audio)
Synonyms of beach
1
: shore pebbles : shingle
2
a
: a shore of a body of water covered by sand, gravel, or larger rock fragments
b
: a seashore area

beach

2 of 2

verb

beached; beaching; beaches

transitive verb

1
: to run or drive ashore
beaching the landing craft in the assault
The storm damaged and beached half the fleet.
2
: to strand on or as if on a beach
a beached shark

Synonyms of beach

Relevance

Noun

See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of beach in a Sentence

Noun We spent the day at the beach. she loves walking along the beach, looking for shells that the waves cast up Verb The pirates beached the ship on the island.
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.
Noun
The two candidates finalized the arguments of their campaigns on Saturday, as Lula marched along Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana beach, while Bolsonaro campaigned in a key battleground state. — Carter Schroppe, The Washington Examiner, 25 Oct. 2026 Beachgoers should stay off jetties and sea walls, and avoid beaches altogether during high tides, the weather service said. — Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
Verb
Beach erosion is expected Tuesday into Wednesday extending from Assateague Island northward along the Maryland and Delaware beaches through Thursday, as well. — Cutter Martin, CBS News, 20 Oct. 2026 There is also a Moderate Risk of rip currents expected along the coastal Pender, New Hanover, and Georgetown County beaches. — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for beach

Word History

Etymology

Noun

origin unknown

Verb

verbal derivative of beach entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1799, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of beach was circa 1552

Phrases Containing beach

Rhymes for beach

See All Rhymes for beach

Browse Nearby Words

be-
beach
beach apple
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Beach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beach. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

beach

1 of 2 noun
ˈbēch How to pronounce beach (audio)
: a sandy or gravelly part of the shore of a body of water

beach

2 of 2 verb
: to run or drive ashore
beach a boat

More from Merriam-Webster on beach

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about beach

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