shore

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈshȯr 

often attributive

1

: the land bordering a usually large body of water

specifically : coast

2

: a boundary (as of a country) or an area within a boundary

—usually used in plural

immigrated to these shores

3

: land as distinguished from the sea

shipboard and shore duty

shore

2 of 3

noun (2)

: a prop for preventing sinking or sagging

shore

3 of 3

verb

shored; shoring

transitive verb

1

: to support by a shore : prop

2

: to give support to : brace

—usually used with up

trying to shore up his claim

Synonyms

Noun (2)

• support
• pillar
• reinforcement
• prop
• mounting
• mount
• brace
• stay
• foundation
• spur

Verb

• sustain
• carry
• support
• bolster
• stay
• prop (up)

Examples of shore in a Sentence

Noun (2)

the carpenter placed a shore underneath the sagging roof of the porch

Verb

a highway tunnel shored up by massive columns of concrete

used an avalanche of statistics to shore up his claim that the state's economy is in fine shape

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Some were able to escape the turmoil and find solace, and a new life on these shores. —Bea L. Hines, Miami Herald, 4 July 2025

The lifeguard, already wearing a wetsuit, jumped in and swam back to shore holding a person who appeared to be dead, according to Youngren. —Ethan Wolin updated July 4, Sacbee.com, 4 July 2025

Verb

Pierce County Sheriff's Office The man refused to leave the pond for more than an hour before deputies used a lasso to rope him and pull him to shore, the bodycam video shows. —Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 17 June 2025

Blow up bullpen Similar to the starting rotation, Boston’s main bullpen acquisitions this offseason came on one-year deals and could be valuable trade chips for a club looking to shore things up in the late-game. —Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 1 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Old English *scor; akin to Middle Low German schōr foreland and perhaps to Old English scieran to cut — more at shear

Noun (2)

Middle English; akin to Middle Dutch scōre prop, Middle Low German schōre

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing shore

• hug the shore
• lee shore
• shore dinner
• shore leave
• shore patrol
• shore up

Rhymes for shore

• boar
• boer
• bore
• chore
• cor
• core
• corps
• crore
• door
• drawer
• floor
• flor

Kids Definition

shore

1 of 3 noun

ˈshō(ə)r 

ˈshȯ(ə)r

: the land along the edge of a body of water (as the sea)

shore

2 of 3 verb

shored; shoring

: to support with one or more bracing timbers

shore up a house foundation

shore

3 of 3 noun

: a prop or support placed under or against something to support it

Etymology

Noun

Middle English shore "the land on the edge of a body of water"

Verb

Middle English shoren "to support, brace"