sandcastle

noun

sand·​cas·​tle ˈsan(d)-ˌka-səl How to pronounce sandcastle (audio)
variants or sand castle
: a small model of a castle or other structure that is made with sand on a beach
Ruth lay beside Piet unhappily, not quite ready to bask and beautify herself like a teenager, yet too old for sandcastles.John Updike
"What you want is a change of air. We will pop down together hand in hand this week-end to some seaside resort. You shall build sand castles, while I lie on the beach and read the paper."P. G. Wodehouse

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The all-day street festival has something for everyone — from clowns to extreme sandcastle sculptures to gourmet bites — right along Long Branch's oceanfront promenade. Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2023 Scavenger hunts, homemade coconut ice cream, sandcastle building, and tie-dye classes rank high on the list of things little ones love, too. Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 7 Mar. 2023 To put it into an analogy: While Saturn may want to build a fortified castle, in Pisces, this structure is more like a sandcastle. Emily Newhouse, Allure, 6 Mar. 2023 The show will have a ‘She Shed’ that can be used as a hobby area; a lofted cabin; advice and creative ideas from exhibitors, a massive sandbox to build a sandcastle or put your toes in the sand, lawn games and more. Brendel Hightower, Detroit Free Press, 23 Feb. 2023 The creation beats out the previous biggest sandcastle in Germany by more than 10 feet, according to Guinness World Records. Gabriela Miranda, USA TODAY, 1 Jan. 2022 The top of the sandcastle is a replica of the virus in the form of a crown. Gabriela Miranda, USA TODAY, 1 Jan. 2022 Eventually, the force of basic math will crush the sandcastle built on faith, belief, and the charisma of American industry’s leading visionary. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 30 Nov. 2021 As a nod to the event’s name, the design centers on a giant sandcastle with various Imperial Beach references, along with a cityscape resembling downtown San Diego’s skyline. Sara Butler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2021 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sandcastle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sandcastle was in 1854

Dictionary Entries Near sandcastle

Cite this Entry

“Sandcastle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sandcastle. Accessed 3 Jun. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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