Illustration of coach
- coach 1a
often attributive
1
a
: a large usually closed four-wheeled horse-drawn carriage having doors in the sides and an elevated seat in front for the driver
On special occasions the queen rides in a gold coach.
b
: a railroad passenger car intended primarily for day travel
Smoking is not permitted in the train's coaches.
c
: bus sense 1a
toured the city by coach
d
e
: a 2-door enclosed automobile
f
: a class of passenger air transportation at a lower fare than first class
We reserved two seats in coach.
2
[from the concept that the tutor conveys the student through examinations]
a
: a private tutor
hired a coach to help her daughter prepare for the test
b
: one who instructs or trains
an acting coach
a birth coach
especially
: one who instructs players in the fundamentals of a sport and directs team strategy
a football coach
a pitching coach
a gymnastics coach
coached; coaching; coaches
1
: to go in a coach
2
: to instruct, direct, or prompt as a coach
When an injury ended his playing career, he decided to coach.
1
: to train intensively (as by instruction and demonstration)
coach pupils
The lawyer coached the witness.
2
: to act as coach of
coach tennis
coach a team
coacher
noun
Synonyms
Examples of coach in a Sentence
Noun
a track star who has been working with a new coach
In those days, people usually traveled long distances in coaches.
Verb
He coaches the tennis star.
He has coached the team for several years.
She coached the U.S. gymnastics team at the Olympics.
He has coached at the college level for many years.
The lawyer admitted to coaching the witness.
It was clear that the witness had been coached by her lawyer on how to answer the questions.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 26 Nov. 2023
Cal coach Mark Madsen said he's asked organizers of the SoCal Challenge tournament to have that fan banned.
—David K. Li, NBC News, 23 Nov. 2023
And as has become common this year, head coach Jim Harbaugh won’t be there.
—Laine Higgins, WSJ, 23 Nov. 2023
Former University of North Carolina field hockey star Erin Matson has added a fifth national championship to her resume - this time as a coach.
—Stephanie Gallman Jordan, Southern Living, 22 Nov. 2023
Cue the hilarious fish-out-of-water sequences in which Flynt, who’s still in excellent physical condition, tries out for a skeptical coach (Rob Corddry, nicely underplaying) who finally agrees to give him a shot, and meets his disbelieving teammates, all of whom are nearly 40 years his junior.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Nov. 2023
So what exactly is Wicker looking for in a head coach?
To begin with, Wicker wants one who understands the culture within both the SDSU football program and athletic department.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Nov. 2023
In a news release on Tuesday, the U.S. Soccer Federation announced that Emma Hayes has been appointed the USWNT's head coach.
—Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 15 Nov. 2023
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has again endorsed Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s romance.
—Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 14 Nov. 2023
Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Nov. 2023
This story will be updated with head coaching changes throughout the year.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Nov. 2023
A week earlier, Reid, who used to coach the Philadelphia Eagles, Swift's childhood team, talked about knowing her dad.
—Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 13 Nov. 2023
Arkansas defensive coordinator Travis Williams and co-coordinator Marcus Woodson will be coaching with extra incentive.
—Tom Murphy, arkansasonline.com, 11 Nov. 2023
And multiple sports documentaries this year were criticized for not properly addressing difficult topics, including Netflix’s looks at Johnny Manziel, the former party-loving quarterback at Texas A&M, and the University of Florida football teams coached by Urban Meyer.
—Emmanuel Morgan, New York Times, 14 Nov. 2023
All could integrate rosters, but not coaching staffs or owners’ suites.
—Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2023
Back on the floor at Viejas Arena, Dutcher will coach a team with fewer star pieces — five members of the nine-man rotation are gone — and inflated expectations facing one of the nation’s toughest nonconference schedules.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Nov. 2023
His father, a former high school quarterback who played golf at the University of Georgia, steered Ethan toward playing quarterback while coaching his youth teams.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2023
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Noun
Another special teams coach, Kevin Sterling, lives in Utah.
—Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 26 Nov. 2023
Cal coach Mark Madsen said he's asked organizers of the SoCal Challenge tournament to have that fan banned.
—David K. Li, NBC News, 23 Nov. 2023
And as has become common this year, head coach Jim Harbaugh won’t be there.
—Laine Higgins, WSJ, 23 Nov. 2023
Former University of North Carolina field hockey star Erin Matson has added a fifth national championship to her resume - this time as a coach.
—Stephanie Gallman Jordan, Southern Living, 22 Nov. 2023
Cue the hilarious fish-out-of-water sequences in which Flynt, who’s still in excellent physical condition, tries out for a skeptical coach (Rob Corddry, nicely underplaying) who finally agrees to give him a shot, and meets his disbelieving teammates, all of whom are nearly 40 years his junior.
—Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Nov. 2023
So what exactly is Wicker looking for in a head coach?
To begin with, Wicker wants one who understands the culture within both the SDSU football program and athletic department.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Nov. 2023
In a news release on Tuesday, the U.S. Soccer Federation announced that Emma Hayes has been appointed the USWNT's head coach.
—Ingrid Vasquez, Peoplemag, 15 Nov. 2023
Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid has again endorsed Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s romance.
—Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 14 Nov. 2023
Verb
In Monday’s weekly press conference, Rhule said White was deserving of a head coaching job.
—Kirk Kenney, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Nov. 2023
This story will be updated with head coaching changes throughout the year.
—Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Nov. 2023
A week earlier, Reid, who used to coach the Philadelphia Eagles, Swift's childhood team, talked about knowing her dad.
—Natasha Dye, Peoplemag, 13 Nov. 2023
Arkansas defensive coordinator Travis Williams and co-coordinator Marcus Woodson will be coaching with extra incentive.
—Tom Murphy, arkansasonline.com, 11 Nov. 2023
And multiple sports documentaries this year were criticized for not properly addressing difficult topics, including Netflix’s looks at Johnny Manziel, the former party-loving quarterback at Texas A&M, and the University of Florida football teams coached by Urban Meyer.
—Emmanuel Morgan, New York Times, 14 Nov. 2023
All could integrate rosters, but not coaching staffs or owners’ suites.
—Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2023
Back on the floor at Viejas Arena, Dutcher will coach a team with fewer star pieces — five members of the nine-man rotation are gone — and inflated expectations facing one of the nation’s toughest nonconference schedules.
—Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Nov. 2023
His father, a former high school quarterback who played golf at the University of Georgia, steered Ethan toward playing quarterback while coaching his youth teams.
—Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2023
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'coach.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Middle English coche, from Middle French, from German Kutsche, from Hungarian kocsi (szekér), literally, wagon from Kocs, Hungary
First Known Use
Noun
1556, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Verb
1608, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Phrases Containing coach
Dictionary Entries Near coach
Cite this Entry
“Coach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coach. Accessed 8 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
coach
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a large usually closed four-wheeled carriage that has a raised seat in front for the driver and is drawn by horses
b
: a railroad passenger car without berths
d
: a class of passenger air transportation at a lower fare than first class
2
a
: a private tutor
b
: a person who instructs or trains a performer or team
a football coach
coach
2 of 2 verb
: to act as a coach
More from Merriam-Webster on coach
Nglish: Translation of coach for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of coach for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about coach
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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