sea

American  

[see] / si /

noun

• seas
  plural

1. the salt waters that cover the greater part of the earth's surface.

2. a division of these waters, of considerable extent, more or less definitely marked off by land boundaries.

   the North Sea.

3. one of the seven seas; ocean.

4. a large lake or landlocked body of water.

5. the degree or amount of turbulence of the ocean or other body of water, as caused by the wind.

6. the waves.

7. a large wave.

   The heavy seas almost drowned us.

8. a widely extended, copious, or overwhelming quantity.

   a sea of faces; a sea of troubles.

   Synonyms:

   mass, abundance, host, multitude

9. the work, travel, and shipboard life of a sailor.

   The sea is a hard life but a rewarding one.

10. Astronomy. mare.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or adapted for use at sea.

idioms

1. at sea, Also

   1. on the ocean.

   2. perplexed; uncertain.

      completely at sea as to how to answer the question.

2. go to sea,

   1. to set out on a voyage.

   2. to embark on a nautical career.

3. half seas over, partly or completely drunk: Also

   They came home at dawn, looking half seas over.

4. put to sea, to embark on a sea voyage: Also put out to sea.

   The expedition is nearly ready to put to sea.

5. follow the sea, to pursue a nautical career.

   Many boys then dreamed of following the sea.

sea British  

/ siː /

noun

1. 1. the mass of salt water on the earth's surface as differentiated from the land

   2. ( as modifier )

      sea air

2. (capital when part of place name)

   1. one of the smaller areas of ocean

      the Irish Sea

   2. a large inland area of water

      the Caspian Sea

3. turbulence or swell, esp of considerable size

   heavy seas

4. (capital when part of a name) astronomy any of many huge dry plains on the surface of the moon See also mare 2

5. anything resembling the sea in size or apparent limitlessness

6. the life or career of a sailor (esp in the phrase follow the sea )

7. 1. on the ocean

   2. in a state of confusion

8. to become a sailor

9. to embark on a sea voyage

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sea Scientific  

/ sē /

1. The continuous body of salt water that covers most of the Earth's surface.

2. A region of water within an ocean and partly enclosed by land, such as the North Sea.

3. See Note at ocean

4. A large body of either fresh or salt water that is completely enclosed by land, such as the Caspian Sea.

5. Astronomy A mare.

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sea More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing sea

• at sea
• between a rock and a hard place (devil and the deep blue sea)
• high seas
• not the only fish in the sea
• put out (to sea)

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• seas
  plural

Etymology

Origin of sea

First recorded before 900; Middle English see, Old English sǣ; cognate with Dutch zee, German See, Old Norse sær “sea,” Gothic saiws “marsh”

Explanation

A sea is a huge body of salt water, typically a part of the ocean that's near land. Much grander than a lake or river, a sea can appear open and endless when you view it from the shore. The best-known examples of sea include the Mediterranean Sea, Bering Sea, and Caribbean Sea. The word sea can also refer to large waves. If there's a sea warning, it would be wise to reschedule your sailing trip. Sea can be used more figuratively to describe something that seems to be vast in quantity, just like the sea. The audience at your concert might look like an endless sea of people.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

sea seas

A man has died after getting into difficulty in the sea on Sunday, emergency services have confirmed.

From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026

A strengthening El Niño could bring the highest sea levels ever recorded to the California coast this year, raising the risk of widespread and damaging flooding.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026

Copernicus director Carlo Buontempo said parts of the Mediterranean and Atlantic were unusually warm but the developing El Nino "is probably the driving force" behind the record sea temperatures.

From Barron's ● Aug. 10, 2026

Around Europe, sea surface temperatures in July reached record highs along the Atlantic coast and in the western Mediterranean, contributing to widespread strong and severe marine heatwaves.

From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026

All gone down to the harbor and across the sea to the English.

From "Nory Ryan’s Song" by Patricia Reilly Giff

For 115 days, captain Mohammad Shafiqul Islam was stranded on the high seas of the Gulf, watching missiles light up the night sky and rationing food and water for his crew.

From Barron's ● Aug. 4, 2026

It is illegal to release raw sewage into rivers and seas during "normal" weather conditions, but firms are allowed to do so when it rains heavily, to prevent homes being flooded.

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026

This two-stage approach could give policymakers a clearer basis for preparing for rising seas while also recognizing the much greater uncertainty that develops later in the century.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 23, 2026

The suspected culprit behind this loss is precisely what most would guess – warming seas, melting arctic ice and a decrease in prey availability.

From Salon ● Jul. 22, 2026

But he was not free, and the next morning he set sail, going straight south over the wide seas of the Reach.

From "A Wizard of Earthsea" by Ursula K. Le Guin

Related Words

• expanse
• lake
• ocean
• pond
• surf