1
: the land near a shore : seashore
3
a
: a hill or slope suited to coasting
b
: a slide down a slope (as on a sled)
4
often Coast
: the Pacific coast of the U.S.
5
: the immediate area of view
—used in the phrase the coast is clear
see also:
coasted; coasting; coasts
1
obsolete
: to move along or past the side of : skirt
2
: to sail along the shore of
1
a
archaic
: to travel on land along a coast or along or past the side of something
b
: to sail along the shore
2
a
: to slide, run, or glide downhill by the force of gravity
b
: to move along without or as if without further application of propulsive power (as by momentum or gravity)
c
: to proceed easily without special application of effort or concern
coasted through school
—often used with ona company coasting on its good reputation
Examples of coast in a Sentence
Noun
He lives on the coast.
He's flying out to the Coast tomorrow.
Verb
The car coasted to a stop.
The airplane coasted down the runway.
The children coasted on sleds down the snowy hill.
They came coasting down the hill on bicycles.
After taking a big lead, the team coasted to victory.
He was accused of trying to coast through school.
She decided she could coast along without a job for the next few months.
The company is coasting on its good reputation.
Recent Examples on the Web
Joel Rose, NPR, 23 Apr. 2026
Authorities in the Krasnodar region on Russia’s Black Sea coast said that 276 firefighters at the Black Sea port of Tuapse were fighting for a third straight day a huge blaze caused by a Ukrainian drone attack earlier this week.
—Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Finch Walker, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
Detroit coasted in the fourth quarter, winning a playoff game for the first time at Little Caesars Arena.
—ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for coast
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Noun
Energy experts have warned that a prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway off Iran's coast, would lead to higher jet fuel prices and possible shortages in Europe.
—Joel Rose, NPR, 23 Apr. 2026
Authorities in the Krasnodar region on Russia’s Black Sea coast said that 276 firefighters at the Black Sea port of Tuapse were fighting for a third straight day a huge blaze caused by a Ukrainian drone attack earlier this week.
—Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
Fetterman comfortably coasted in Allegheny County on Election Night 2022.
—Finch Walker, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026
Detroit coasted in the fourth quarter, winning a playoff game for the first time at Little Caesars Arena.
—ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for coast
Cite this Entry
“Coast.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coast. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
coast
2 of 2 verb1
: to sail along the shore of
2
a
: to slide downhill by the force of gravity
b
: to move along (as on a bicycle when not pedaling) without applying power
3
: to succeed without special effort
coasted through school
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