plural coasts
1
: the land along or near a sea or ocean
sea/rocky coasts [=shores]
the west/east coast
He lives on the coast.
We drove along a long stretch of coast. [=shore]
2
US, informal
: the area along or near the Pacific Ocean
He's flying out to the Coast tomorrow.
coasts; coasted; coasting
1
a
: to move forward using no power or very little power
The car coasted to a stop.
The airplane coasted down the runway.
b
: to move downhill by the force of gravity
The children coasted on sleds down the snowy hill.
They came coasting down the hill on bicycles.
2
: to progress or have success without special effort
After taking a big lead, the team coasted to victory.
He was accused of trying to coast through school.
She decided she could coast along without a job for the next few months.
The company is coasting on its good reputation.
Cite this Entry
“Coast.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/coast. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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