shoreline

noun

shore·​line ˈshȯr-ˌlīn How to pronounce shoreline (audio)
1
: the line where a body of water and the shore meet
2
: the strip of land along the shoreline

Examples of shoreline in a Sentence

The road runs along the shoreline.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
There are few better countries to journey waterside than in the United States, which has almost 100,000 miles of shoreline between its Atlantic and Pacific coasts—and that’s not counting the freshwater shorelines found inland. Chloe Arrojado, AFAR Media, 17 June 2025 The closure area, which the department announced at 5:30 p.m. June 16, extends along about 200 feet of shoreline. La Jolla Light, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 June 2025 The Alo Beach Club takes advantage of the location’s private shoreline to create a seasonal space for movement, mindfulness and luxury living. Alexandra Pastore, Footwear News, 16 June 2025 Water and shoreline searches were performed in Cape Cod Bay and Nantucket Sound. David Chiu, People.com, 11 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for shoreline

Word History

First Known Use

1852, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of shoreline was in 1852

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shoreline.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shoreline. Accessed 29 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

shoreline

noun
shore·​line -ˌlīn How to pronounce shoreline (audio)
: the line where a body of water touches the shore

Geographical Definition

Shoreline

geographical name

Shore·​line ˈshȯr-ˌlīn How to pronounce Shoreline (audio)
city in west central Washington on Puget Sound north of Seattle population 53,007

More from Merriam-Webster on shoreline

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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