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.
Along the Pacific Northwest shorelines, communities are preparing for severe flooding. — Ava Berger, NPR, 29 Oct. 2026 Perched on the northern shoreline of Isla Navarino in Chilean Tierra del Fuego, the 150-room lodge—which finally opened its doors earlier this month—is now officially the southernmost hotel on Earth. — Liam Hess, Vogue, 29 Oct. 2026 In the northern part of the state, minor flooding was expected through Saturday in low-lying areas along shorelines and tidal waterways during peak high tides, the weather service said. — ABC News, 28 Oct. 2026 Paddling along the shoreline of a small lake in the wilderness, as pine and spruce trees hover over the dark water’s edge and the wind whips waves against the canoe, a human knows her place. — Story Hinckley, Christian Science Monitor, 28 Oct. 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 1 Nov. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on shoreline

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