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 Coast
: the Pacific coast of the U.S.
5
: the immediate area of view
—used in the phrase the coast is clear
see also from coast to coast
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
Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 23 Dec. 2025
With Australia’s Queensland coast standing in the Amazon, Gormican skillfully milks the inherent humor in the situation while also not letting the horror aspects of the original film overtake this one, at least not enough to threaten a PG-13 rating.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 23 Dec. 2025
Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 21 Dec. 2025
At that point, the New Shepard capsule was released to continue coasting upward on its own, and the crew, now weightless, was free to briefly unstrap and float about the cabin.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coast
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Noun
For Six Senses, the partnership with Gere adds credibility and a certain level of notoriety to a project already positioned as one of the most ambitious experiments in regenerative luxury living on the Pacific coast.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 23 Dec. 2025
With Australia’s Queensland coast standing in the Amazon, Gormican skillfully milks the inherent humor in the situation while also not letting the horror aspects of the original film overtake this one, at least not enough to threaten a PG-13 rating.
—Pete Hammond, Deadline, 23 Dec. 2025
Verb
Luke has been coasting through several grades by rewriting a research paper about manatees, earning him the nickname Manatee Cowboy from friends Claire and Gabe.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 21 Dec. 2025
At that point, the New Shepard capsule was released to continue coasting upward on its own, and the crew, now weightless, was free to briefly unstrap and float about the cabin.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 20 Dec. 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 26 Dec. 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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