at sea
Idioms-
Aboard a ship, on the ocean, as in Within a few hours the ship would be out at sea . During World War II a famous American newscaster addressed his radio broadcasts to listeners everywhere, including “all the ships at sea.” [1300s]
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Also, all at sea . Perplexed, bewildered, as in She was all at sea in these new surroundings . This idiom transfers the condition of a vessel that has lost its bearings to the human mind. Charles Dickens used it in Little Dorrit (1855): “Mrs. Tickit ... was so plainly at sea on this part of the case.” [Second half of 1700s]
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.
Take the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, which returned to port in Thailand in early September after nine months at sea.
From Salon ● Sep. 19, 2026
GPS satellites transmit signals that guide “smart bombs” to their targets, connect communications networks, even tell troops on the ground and ships at sea exactly where they are.
From Slate ● Sep. 17, 2026
According to testimony from the two survivors, their flimsy boat began to deflate and take on water after several hours at sea.
From Barron's ● Sep. 8, 2026
Crew will often strip and recoat worn spots during port calls, something that likely wasn’t possible during the Lincoln’s many months at sea, Clark said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 5, 2026
Like on their first day at sea, when he had climbed up the huge ladder into the crow’s nest.
From "I Survived the Sinking of the Titanic, 1912" by Lauren Tarshis
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.
