loch

noun

ˈläk How to pronounce loch (audio)
Definition of lochnext
Scottish
as in bay
a part of a body of water that extends beyond the general shoreline in his biography of Samuel Johnson, James Boswell tells of being conducted by a Scottish boatman "across one of the lochs, as they call them, or arms of the sea"

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of loch The sprawling coastal property encompasses roughly 3,700 acres of pastureland, woodlands, lochs, and more than three miles of dramatic shoreline. — Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 11 June 2026 While an exact date can’t be pinpointed, according to the World Curling Federation, the sport was played during its early stages on frozen lochs and ponds in northern Europe. — Ben Morse, CNN Money, 4 Feb. 2026 Located on the shores of Loch Linnhe, one of 31,000 freshwater lochs in Scotland, Fort William sits in the shadow of Ben Nevis, at 4,490 feet the highest peak in Britain. — Patti Nickell, Boston Herald, 15 Feb. 2026 Covering roughly 260 kilometers from Glasgow to the west coast of Scotland, the West Highland Line is one of the most beautiful routes in the world, offering an ever-changing landscape of rugged mountains, mirror-like lochs, and remote moorlands. — Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 18 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for loch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loch
  1. bay
  2. estuary
  3. firth
  4. cove
Noun
  • For a more upscale setting to sip cocktails, order caviar, and watch the sunset, visit Skybar at Hôtel Byblos, a rooftop that opened in 2025 and overlooks the bay.
    — Karli Poliziani, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 July 2026
  • Austria had one good look — a header that just missed — but largely been kept at bay.
    — Ashley Mowreader, NBC news, 3 July 2026
Definition of bay
Noun
  • In the areas near the mouths of the rivers and the estuary, there is permanent signage with warnings and restrictive cordoning, the police noted.
    — Jessica Mekles, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026
  • Among the dishes is blue crab plucked from the water tableside, then served rillette-style using fat from the restaurant’s estuaries.
    — Jamila Robinson, Bon Appetit Magazine, 29 June 2026
Definition of estuary
Noun
  • After playing one more hole, the twelfth, along the firth, the course makes a turn inland for the duration of the round.
    — Mike Fore, Forbes.com, 10 Feb. 2026
  • Bleary-eyed coverage that kicks off before sunrise in the States, with gusts off the firth and cut lines that can swallow a top 10 in an hour.
    — Jenny Catlin, New York Times, 9 July 2025
Definition of firth
Noun
  • Officials say large canopies create a similar visibility problem in Laguna Beach, where beaches are much more narrow and often hemmed in by coves.
    — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
  • An ideal itinerary includes hiking the Tramuntana, an afternoon swim in a near-empty cove, then a slow evening stroll through Deià before dinner.
    — Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of cove

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loch
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Cite this Entry

“Loch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loch. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on loch

Nglish: Translation of loch for Spanish Speakers

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