sea

noun

ˈsē 

1

a

: a great body of salt water that covers much of the earth

broadly : the waters of the earth as distinguished from the land and air

b

: a body of salt water of second rank more or less landlocked

the Mediterranean sea

c

: ocean

d

: an inland body of water

—used especially for names of such bodies

the Caspian Sea

2

a

: surface motion on a large body of water or its direction

also : a large swell or wave

—often used in plural

heavy seas

b

: the disturbance of the ocean or other body of water due to the wind

3

: something likened to the sea especially in vastness

a sea of faces

4

: the seafaring life

5

: mare entry 2

sea adjective

Phrases

at sea

1

: on the sea

specifically : on a sea voyage

2

: lost, bewildered

to sea

: to or on the open waters of the sea

Synonyms

• blue
• brine
• deep
• Neptune
• ocean
• seven seas

Examples of sea in a Sentence

the seas of the Southern Hemisphere

millions of plants and animals live in the sea

Recent Examples on the Web

Or, dive under the sea with The Little Mermaid Ultimate Ariel Sisters Doll Set from Mattel, which comes with each of the seven sisters and is 40% off at Amazon. —Phoebe Sklansky, Parents, 24 Nov. 2023

Their cinematic compositions impel the eye to rush across land and sea, while offering a sense of the slow accumulation of random particles that gradually become mountains and oceans. —Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 24 Nov. 2023

When almost a dozen marching bands make their way through the 97th annual Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade on Thursday, there will be a sea of maroon and white. —Char Adams, NBC News, 22 Nov. 2023

Videos posted to TikTok at the time showed a sea of employees swaying to Coldplay’s hits, getting sprayed by confetti and whipping their phones out to record the occasion. —Byorianna Rosa Royle, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2023

The medieval ramparts ripple over the hill like the tail of a mighty dragon, and the panorama swings around from the sparkling sea and port to the sunbaked city and mountains. —Lisa Johnson, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Nov. 2023

For example, fish in warming seas have shifted to cooler, deeper waters that have dramatically different light intensity and color range than their visual systems are used to. —Sean O'Donnell, Discover Magazine, 20 Nov. 2023

The French city by the sea is home to Cours Julien neighborhood, which also made its way to Time Out’s coolest neighborhoods list in 2023. —Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 19 Nov. 2023

The hard-side suitcases come in multiple colors and finishes, including a coastal blue polycarbonate option that’s easy to spot in a sea of otherwise black bags on the luggage carousel. —Erica Finamore, wsj.com, 12 Nov. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

Middle English see, from Old English sǣ; akin to Old High German sē sea, Goth saiws

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing sea

• between the devil and the deep blue sea
• deep-sea
• by sea
• many/plenty more fish in the sea
• not the only fish in the sea
• sea air
• sea dog
• sea duck
• sea fan
• sea hare
• sea island cotton
• sea level
• sea-maid
• sea nettle
• sea onion
• sea oats
• sea rover
• sea puss
• sea serpent
• sea snake
• sea stores
• sub-sea
• the open sea
• go to sea
• out to sea
• beam sea
• sea bream
• Chilean sea bass
• sea anemone
• sea anchor
• sea captain
• sea devil
• sea breeze
• sea crayfish
• California sea lion
• high sea
• sea power
• sea bed
• put (out) to sea
• sea bass
• sea cow
• sea mile
• sea grape
• sea kale
• fish in the sea
• sea chest
• sea lawyer
• at sea
• sea lavender
• sea mew
• sea lion
• sea eagle
• sea holly
• sea green
• sea duty
• sea lamprey
• sea monster
• sea room
• sea wasp
• sea monkey
• sea pen
• sea turtle
• sea cucumber
• sea pink
• sea urchin
• sea squirt
• sea change
• sea spider
• sea king
• Steller's sea cow
• white sea bass
• sea wrack
• sea robin
• sea slug
• sea floor
• sea star
• sea lettuce
• spotted sea trout
• sea-run
• sea fire
• sea-lane
• sea otter
• sea scallop
• sea salt
• sea whip
• sea scorpion
• wash out to sea
• sea biscuit
• sea mouse
• sea trout
• sea legs
• sea lily
• to sea
• swept out to sea
• sea-maiden

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• between the devil and the deep blue sea
• deep-sea
• by sea
• many/plenty more fish in the sea
• not the only fish in the sea
• sea air
• sea dog
• sea duck
• sea fan
• sea hare
• sea island cotton
• sea level
• sea-maid
• sea nettle
• sea onion
• sea oats
• sea rover
• sea puss
• sea serpent
• sea snake
• sea stores
• sub-sea
• the open sea
• go to sea
• out to sea
• beam sea
• sea bream
• Chilean sea bass
• sea anemone
• sea anchor
• sea captain
• sea devil
• sea breeze
• sea crayfish
• California sea lion
• high sea
• sea power
• sea bed
• put (out) to sea
• sea bass
• sea cow
• sea mile
• sea grape
• sea kale
• fish in the sea
• sea chest
• sea lawyer
• at sea
• sea lavender
• sea mew
• sea lion
• sea eagle
• sea holly
• sea green
• sea duty
• sea lamprey
• sea monster
• sea room
• sea wasp
• sea monkey
• sea pen
• sea turtle
• sea cucumber
• sea pink
• sea urchin
• sea squirt
• sea change
• sea spider
• sea king
• Steller's sea cow
• white sea bass
• sea wrack
• sea robin
• sea slug
• sea floor
• sea star
• sea lettuce
• spotted sea trout
• sea-run
• sea fire
• sea-lane
• sea otter
• sea scallop
• sea salt
• sea whip
• sea scorpion
• wash out to sea
• sea biscuit
• sea mouse
• sea trout
• sea legs
• sea lily
• to sea
• swept out to sea
• sea-maiden

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Kids Definition

sea

noun

ˈsē 

1

a

: a great body of salty water that covers much of the earth

also : the waters of the earth

b

: a body of salt water not as large as an ocean

the Mediterranean Sea

c

: ocean sense 1

d

: an inland body of water either salt or fresh

the Sea of Galilee

2

: rough water

a high sea swept the deck

3

: something suggesting the sea (as in great size or depth)

a golden sea of wheat

4

: a life involving marine travel

hoped to make a career of the sea

5

: mare entry 2

sea adjective