coast

[ kohst ]

/ koʊst /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: coast / coasting on Thesaurus.com

noun

the land next to the sea; seashore: the rocky coast of Maine.

the region adjoining it: They live on the coast, a few miles from the sea.

a hill or slope down which one may slide on a sled.

a slide or ride down a hill or slope, as on a sled.

Obsolete. the boundary or border of a country.

the Coast, Informal. (in the U.S. and Canada) the region bordering on the Pacific Ocean; the West Coast: I'm flying out to the Coast next week.

verb (used without object)

to slide on a sled down a snowy or icy hillside or incline.

to descend a hill or the like, as on a bicycle, without using pedals.

to continue to move or advance after effort has ceased; keep going on acquired momentum: We cut off the car engine and coasted for a while.

to advance or proceed with little or no effort, especially owing to one's actual or former assets, as wealth, position, or name, or those of another: The actor coasted to stardom on his father's name.

to sail along, or call at the various ports of, a coast.

Obsolete. to proceed in a roundabout way.

verb (used with object)

to cause to move along under acquired momentum: to coast a rocket around the sun.

to proceed along or near the coast of.

Obsolete. to keep alongside of (a person moving).

Obsolete. to go by the side or border of.

OTHER WORDS FOR coast

1 strand, seaside, littoral.

See synonyms for coast on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about coast

the coast is clear, no danger or impediment exists; no persons are in the path or vicinity: The boys waited until the coast was clear before climbing over the wall.

Origin of coast

First recorded in 1325–75; (noun) Middle English cost(e),<Anglo-French, Middle French, from Latin costa “rib, side, wall”; (verb) Middle English cost(e)yen, costen, from Anglo-French costeier,Old French costoier, derivative of the noun

synonym study for coast

1. See shore¹.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use coast in a sentence

The stretch of coast off East Africa where the captives were taken in 2015 was once famous for its speedboat hijackings.
Piracy is thriving off the coast of West Africa despite COVID nearly crushing global marine traffic|kdunn6|November 20, 2020|Fortune
About half our group flew in from the coasts, with the rest driving from various points in the West.
On mountain bikes in the Utah desert, a college reunion like no other|John Briley|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
As in-person comics conventions from coast to coast toppled like dominoes, creators and fans were missing these bonding pilgrimages.
2020 graphic novels and comic books: Five trends that defined the year|Michael Cavna|November 19, 2020|Washington Post
So, if a drone can stay on the radar of any fires early in the process, it would help controlling borders or coasts or pipeline monitoring.
Leveraging collective intelligence and AI to benefit society|Jason Sparapani|November 18, 2020|MIT Technology Review

Future projections are more dire, with scientists warning that most of Hawaii’s beaches could be lost if hundreds of homes, condos, hotels and roads that line the coasts aren’t moved inland.
Oceanfront Property Tied to Obama Granted Exemption From Hawaii’s Environmental Laws|by Sophie Cocke, Honolulu Star-Advertiser|November 18, 2020|ProPublica
For far too long, we have been coasting on a moral authority to which we long ago lost any clear title.
After Torture Report, Our Moral Authority As a Nation Is Gone|Nick Gillespie|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The 56-year-old artist has passed the point in his career when most start coasting.
Prince Returns From the Wilderness and, Thankfully, Is as Restless as Ever|Keith Phipps|October 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback should be coasting to re-election this fall.
Sam Brownback’s Kansas Catastrophe|Patricia Murphy|July 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“I wanted to let him know ‘I was coming for you’ and there was no coasting,” Miller said.
The Can't-Miss Sochi Showdown: Bode Miller And Ted Ligety|Jake Bright|February 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In 1992, after the early stumbles, Bill was coasting to the nomination as winter surrendered to spring.
Clintons Christen Bill de Blasio to Shore Up Hillary’s Left|Michael Tomasky|January 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
They have encamped in the rear of our office, pending the arrival of the next coasting steamer.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
On the 4th of May we put off to sea in a boat, for the purpose of coasting round to Papara, forty-two miles distant.
A Woman's Journey Round the World|Ida Pfeiffer
In coasting along the shore, you will discern the summits which are marked on the chart.
Narrative of a Survey of the Intertropical and Western Coasts of Australia] [Volume 2 of 2]|Phillip Parker King
The same company also has a line of steamers running to Alaska, as well as a fleet of coasting steamers.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3|Various
It is the headquarters of the Devonshire sea-fisheries, having also a large coasting trade.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3|Various

British Dictionary definitions for coast

coast

/ (kəʊst) /

noun

the line or zone where the land meets the sea or some other large expanse of water
(in combination)coastland

Related adjective: littoral

British the seaside

a slope down which a sledge may slide
the act or an instance of sliding down a slope

obsolete borderland or frontier

the coast is clear informal the obstacles or dangers are gone

verb

to move or cause to move by momentum or force of gravity

(intr) to proceed without great effortto coast to victory

to sail along (a coast)

Derived forms of coast

coastal, adjectivecoastally, adverb

Word Origin for coast

C13: from Old French coste coast, slope, from Latin costa side, rib

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

coast

OTHER WORDS FOR coast

Idioms about coast

Origin of coast

synonym study for coast

Words related to coast

How to use coast in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for coast

Derived forms of coast

Word Origin for coast