shoreline

noun

shore·​line ˈshȯr-ˌlīn 

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

Large, destructive waves and life-threatening rip currents are forecast across many Hawaiian shorelines during the next several days. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026

Along its two miles are 17 significant sites; public squares shaded by flame trees; and a pedestrian bridge that reconnects Muharraq with its original shoreline, which has been mostly lost to development. — Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Sep. 2026

Dramatic video footage from Long Beach shows massive waves slamming into the shoreline and splintering the wood on the boardwalk. — Rosanna Xia, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026

For decades, the docks where the Calumet River empties into Lake Michigan, along South Chicago’s shoreline, received iron ore. — Yunus Emre Tozal, Chicago Tribune, 7 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1852, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for shoreline

• alkaline
• andesine
• anodyne
• anticline
• arginine
• asinine
• benzidine
• borderline
• byzantine
• calamine
• caroline
• centerline

Kids Definition

shoreline

noun

shore·​line -ˌlīn 

: the line where a body of water touches the shore

Geographical Definition

Shoreline

geographical name

Shore·​line ˈshȯr-ˌlīn 

city in west central Washington on Puget Sound north of Seattle