1
a
: a great body of salt water that covers much of the earth
broadly : the waters of the earth as distinguished from the land and air
b
: a body of salt water of second rank more or less landlocked
the Mediterranean sea
c
: ocean
d
: an inland body of water
used especially for names of such bodies
the Caspian Sea
2
a
: surface motion on a large body of water or its direction
also : a large swell or wave
often used in plural
heavy seas
b
: the disturbance of the ocean or other body of water due to the wind
3
: something likened to the sea especially in vastness
a sea of faces
4
: the seafaring life
5
sea adjective
Phrases
at sea
1
: on the sea
specifically : on a sea voyage
2
to sea
: to or on the open waters of the sea

Examples of sea in a Sentence

the seas of the Southern Hemisphere millions of plants and animals live in the sea
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.
Sucker-punched by surprise storms and kayoed by hurricanes, it has been swamped, splintered and even swept out to sea on nearly a dozen occasions — always to rise from the sand for that next bout with nature. Mike Klingaman, Baltimore Sun, 26 May 2025 That’s because storing oil at sea is more expensive than on land and a measure of last resort in extreme cases when onshore storage appears to run out. Gaurav Sharma, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025 Sometimes warriors are lost at sea keeping the sea-lanes open in 2024. Arkansas Online, 26 May 2025 The resulting clouds can act as insulating layers in the atmosphere, often helping to reduce surface temperatures and also the extent of sea ice coverage around Antarctica. Doyle Rice, USA Today, 24 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for sea

Word History

Etymology

Middle English see, from Old English ; akin to Old High German sea, Goth saiws

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of sea was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sea. Accessed 30 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

sea

noun
1
a
: a great body of salty water that covers much of the earth
also : the waters of the earth
b
: a body of salt water not as large as an ocean
the Mediterranean Sea
d
: an inland body of water either salt or fresh
the Sea of Galilee
2
: rough water
a high sea swept the deck
3
: something suggesting the sea (as in great size or depth)
a golden sea of wheat
4
: a life involving marine travel
hoped to make a career of the sea
5
sea adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on sea

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