coach

noun, often attributive \ ˈkōch \

|Updated on: 11 Jul 2018

Definition of coach

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 1a

toured the city by coach

d : trailer 1b

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.

[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

See coach defined for English-language learners

See coach defined for kids

Examples of coach in a Sentence

a track star who has been working with a new coach
In those days, people usually traveled long distances in coaches.

Recent Examples of coach from the Web

The boys, 11 to 16, and their coach went exploring in the cave after a soccer game June 23.

— tassanee vejpongsa and kaweewit kaewjinda, chicagotribune.com, "Thai soccer coach apologizes in letter to parents as boys write they are 'doing fine'," 7 July 2018
The Wild Boars soccer team, aged between 11 and 16, entered the cave—which several had visited before—on June 23 with their coach, 25-year-old Ekkapol Chantawong.

— jake maxwell watts, WSJ, "Thailand Cave Rescue: Worsening Air Quality Adds to Pressure for Swift Solution," 7 July 2018
The boys, 11 to 16, and their coach went exploring in the cave after a soccer game June 23.

— NBC News, "Thai soccer coach apologizes and boys send love to family in letter from cave," 7 July 2018
Farace began as a recreational instructor before becoming the travel head coach in 2010.

— kyle stackpole, Howard County Times, "Howard County announces 2018 Community Sports Hall of Fame induction class," 7 July 2018
Since being found alive 4 days ago, the international search effort to bring the boys and their coach out of the cave system has grown exponentially.

— david grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Ex-SEAL Diver Dies in Thai Cave Rescue Attempt," 6 July 2018
And if a candidate was interested, would he be reassured knowing that Long has a history of supporting his coaches, even to the point of losing his own job?

— jesse newell, kansascity, "Why KU's athletic director hire Jeff Long makes sense for school, new chancellor," 5 July 2018
The euphoria of finding the soccer team and their coach alive has quickly turned to the sober reality of how to extract them from the cave.

— danica kirka, Fox News, "British divers bring experience to Thai cave drama," 4 July 2018
Four Thai Navy SEALs, including a doctor, are with the boys, ages 11 to 16, and their 25-year-old soccer coach.

— New York Times, "Thailand Cave Updates: No Rescue Attempt Imminent, Official Says," 4 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'coach.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Illustration of coach

Origin and Etymology of coach

Middle English coche, from Medieval French, from German Kutsche, from Hungarian kocsi (szekér), literally, wagon from Kocs, Hungary

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1556

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

coach Synonyms

Synonyms

trainer;

Related Words

handler, manager;

instructor, teacher, tutor;

driller, drillmaster;

adviser (also advisor), counselor (or counsellor), guide, mentor;

Other Railroad Terms

cowcatcher, cupola, gauge, vestibule, yard

coach

verb

Definition of coach

coached; coaching; coaches

intransitive verb

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.

transitive verb

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

—

coachable

play \ˈkō-chə-bəl\ adjective

—

coacher

noun

See coach defined for English-language learners

Examples of coach in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of coach from the Web

Nugent actually stepped away from coaching the game this year.

— adam baum, Cincinnati.com, "Lacrosse community uplifts coach Tom Nugent as he battles cancer for the 2nd time," 6 July 2018
Despite coaching the Cavs to the top of the Eastern Conference the next season, he was fired midway through.

— scott gleeson, USA TODAY, "Ranking LeBron James' seven NBA head coaches over the course of his career," 5 July 2018
Pavard’s father was a defender for US Maubeuge in the French third division before coaching amateur teams in the region.

— christopher clarey, New York Times, "Benjamin Pavard, and His World Cup Highlight, Came Out of Nowhere," 4 July 2018
While the master's team hadn't achieved national success previously, Russell has a long history with coaching successful teams.

— evan frank, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "As he fought cancer, Oconomowoc swim coach led his team to a national championship," 3 July 2018
What keeps me so alive after 29 years of coaching Division I basketball is that our players are not just players.

— bob mckillop, Washington Post, "Why take our college basketball team to Auschwitz?," 3 July 2018
As part of his plea agreement, Farquhar is prohibited from coaching youth sports during his probation period.

— alicia fabbre, Daily Southtown, "Ex-Monee mayor who was accused of breaking ump's jaw at youth baseball game pleads guilty to aggravated battery, records show," 29 June 2018
One tough aspect of coaching in college is figuring out when athletes might make that decision, but after Holiday tested the waters last year, all signs pointed to this eventual conclusion.

— jordan guskey, Indianapolis Star, "Steve Alford on Indiana Pacers drafting Aaron Holiday: ‘We thought he would be gone by then’," 25 June 2018
The Rooney rule, named after former Pittsburgh Steelers owner Dan Rooney, requires NFL teams to interview at least one minority candidate for coaching jobs.

— anita bennett, Fortune, "Directors Guild Blasts Hollywood for 'Outrageous' Lack of Diversity Among Filmmakers," 21 June 2018

Origin and Etymology of coach

see ¹coach

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1630

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

coach Synonyms

Synonyms

counsel, guide, lead, mentor, pilot, shepherd, show, tutor;

Related Words

godfather;

direct, engineer, steer, sway;

accompany, attend, chaperone (or chaperon), convoy, escort, see, squire;

oversee, superintend, supervise;

drill, train;

brief, enlighten, inform;

instruct, school, teach, tutor;

inculcate, indoctrinate;

cultivate, foster, nurture;

Phrases

walk through;

COACH Defined for English Language Learners

coach

noun

Definition of coach for English Language Learners

: a person who teaches and trains an athlete or performer
: a person who teaches and trains the members of a sports team and makes decisions about how the team plays during games
: a private teacher who gives someone lessons in a particular subject

coach

verb

Definition of coach for English Language Learners

: to teach and train (an athlete or performer)
: to teach, train, and direct (a sports team)
: to teach (a student) privately rather than in a class

COACH Defined for Kids

coach

noun \ ˈkōch \

Definition of coach for Students

1 : a large carriage that has four wheels and a raised seat outside in front for the driver and is drawn by horses

2 : a person who instructs or trains a performer or team

3 : a person who teaches students individually

4 : a railroad passenger car without berths

5 : the least expensive seats on an airplane or a train

coach

verb

Definition of coach for Students

coached; coaching

: to teach and train

Learn More about coach

See words that rhyme with coach Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for coach Spanish Central: Translation of 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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coach

Definition of coach

Examples of coach in a Sentence

Recent Examples of coach from the Web

Illustration of coach

Origin and Etymology of coach

coach Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Other Railroad Terms

coach

Definition of coach

coachable

coacher

Examples of coach in a Sentence

Recent Examples of coach from the Web

Origin and Etymology of coach

coach Synonyms

Synonyms

Related Words

Phrases

COACH Defined for English Language Learners

coach

Definition of coach for English Language Learners

coach

Definition of coach for English Language Learners

COACH Defined for Kids

coach

Definition of coach for Students

coach

Definition of coach for Students

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