shoreline

noun

shore·​line ˈshȯr-ˌlīn How to pronounce shoreline (audio)
1
: the line where a body of water and the shore meet
2
: the strip of land along the shoreline

Examples of shoreline in a Sentence

The road runs along the shoreline.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Living shorelines are a type of green infrastructure technique, using native vegetation and other natural materials to stabilize shorelines against erosion while enhancing biodiversity, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Molly Duerig, Miami Herald, 28 June 2025 Plastic bag bans and fees could help reduce the number ending up littering shorelines by at least a quarter, according to a new analysis. Jamie Hailstone, Forbes.com, 27 June 2025 The empty shoreline where volunteers worked in May was previously a thick mangrove wetland, before Hurricane Ian devastated the Fort Myers area in 2022. Christina Kelso, New York Times, 24 June 2025 That superyacht, by the by, threw some 7,000 tons of carbon into the atmosphere last year, which exacerbates global warming, which raises the seas, which lap at the shoreline, which is why porcelain thrones on manmade islands are a clear and present danger. Pat Beall, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for shoreline

Word History

First Known Use

1852, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shoreline was in 1852

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shoreline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shoreline. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

shoreline

noun
shore·​line -ˌlīn How to pronounce shoreline (audio)
: the line where a body of water touches the shore

Geographical Definition

Shoreline

geographical name

Shore·​line ˈshȯr-ˌlīn How to pronounce Shoreline (audio)
city in west central Washington on Puget Sound north of Seattle population 53,007

More from Merriam-Webster on shoreline

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!