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
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Flagg remains out with a left foot sprain, Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said Thursday.
—Christian Clark, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Tobias Bass, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2026
Students scoring below basic would be subject to summer tutoring, extra reading coaching during the school year and optional retention in first and second grade.
—Nuria Martinez-Keel, Oklahoma Voice, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for coach
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show current usage.
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Noun
The feeling of dread only worsened as teammates carried her first to the sideline, where coaches and trainers eventually carried her to the locker room.
—Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Flagg remains out with a left foot sprain, Mavericks coach Jason Kidd said Thursday.
—Christian Clark, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2026
Verb
Scott coached the program from 2000-01 to 2003-04, a run highlighted by the program’s lone conference championship in 2003–04 when Air Force went 12–2 in the Mountain West Conference.
—Tobias Bass, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2026
Students scoring below basic would be subject to summer tutoring, extra reading coaching during the school year and optional retention in first and second grade.
—Nuria Martinez-Keel, Oklahoma Voice, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for coach
Cite this Entry
“Coach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coach. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
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