ashore
Americanadverb
-
to the shore; onto the shore.
The schooner was driven ashore.
-
on the shore; on land rather than at sea or on the water.
The captain has been ashore for two hours.
adverb
adjective
Etymology
Origin of ashore
Explanation
When you go ashore, you move from the water to the land, usually in a boat. When you've tired of canoeing, you can paddle back to the edge of the lake and go ashore. An old rowboat might wash ashore, drifting up on the beach, or you might bring your kayak ashore after paddling from one island to another. You can also talk about being ashore after spending time on a boat or ship: "I'm ashore until Friday, and then I head back out on the cruise ship." The roots are a-, "to" or "toward," and shore, from the Middle Low German schōre, "shore, coast, or headland."
Vocabulary lists containing ashore
"Hitching a Ride"
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"Not-So-Starry Nights: Light Pollution Turns Night into Day"
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The (Mostly) True Story of Cleopatra's Needle
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In Monterey Bay, south of San Francisco, harmful algae are so prevalent that two humpback whales were found dead ashore in early June.
From Barron's ● Jul. 27, 2026
Much of what researchers know about pygmy sperm whales has come from animals that wash ashore.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 21, 2026
“But really, any beach that has a nice, wide area where they can come ashore is a potential beach.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026
"The top priority is rescue, bringing all victims ashore and focusing all efforts on providing emergency care to those who are still alive," Hai said.
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
They would come ashore where we lived, just by our tiny island.
From "Beyond the Bright Sea" by Lauren Wolk
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
