1
: the land near a shore : seashore
3
a
: a hill or slope suited to coasting
b
: a slide down a slope (as on a sled)
4
often capitalized
: the Pacific coast of the U.S.
5
: the immediate area of view
—used in the phrase the coast is clear
coasted; coasting; coasts
1
obsolete
: to move along or past the side of : skirt
2
: to sail along the shore of
1
a
archaic
: to travel on land along a coast or along or past the side of something
b
: to sail along the shore
2
a
: to slide, run, or glide downhill by the force of gravity
b
: to move along without or as if without further application of propulsive power (as by momentum or gravity)
c
: to proceed easily without special application of effort or concern
coasted through school
—often used with ona company coasting on its good reputation
Examples of coast in a Sentence
Noun
He lives on the coast.
He's flying out to the Coast tomorrow.
Verb
The car coasted to a stop.
The airplane coasted down the runway.
The children coasted on sleds down the snowy hill.
They came coasting down the hill on bicycles.
After taking a big lead, the team coasted to victory.
He was accused of trying to coast through school.
She decided she could coast along without a job for the next few months.
The company is coasting on its good reputation.
Recent Examples on the Web
Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025
More than 14 million apartments and houses have a substantial risk of flooding in the next 30 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office — from sea level rise and storm surge along the coasts, to heavy rain and river flooding inland.
—Rebecca Hersher, NPR, 12 July 2025
Michael Cox, New York Times, 30 June 2025
Ramirez closed the fight in style and coasted to a victory on my card.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for coast
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show current usage.
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Noun
Nearly all of the island’s 19 square miles are covered in glaciers, punctuated by rugged cliffs, lava fields, and just a few ice-free stretches along the coast.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 12 July 2025
More than 14 million apartments and houses have a substantial risk of flooding in the next 30 years, according to the Congressional Budget Office — from sea level rise and storm surge along the coasts, to heavy rain and river flooding inland.
—Rebecca Hersher, NPR, 12 July 2025
Verb
In the second half of this season, things have been more of a struggle, even as Chelsea have coasted to an unbeaten league title.
—Michael Cox, New York Times, 30 June 2025
Ramirez closed the fight in style and coasted to a victory on my card.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 28 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for coast
Cite this Entry
“Coast.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coast. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
coast
2 of 2 verb1
: to sail along the shore of
2
a
: to slide downhill by the force of gravity
b
: to move along (as on a bicycle when not pedaling) without applying power
3
: to succeed without special effort
coasted through school
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