as in flowing
to move or proceed smoothly and readily
coasting along easily in the light traffic
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Recent Examples of coasting
Luke has been coasting through several grades by rewriting a research paper about manatees, earning him the nickname Manatee Cowboy from friends Claire and Gabe.
—
Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 21 Dec. 2025
At that point, the New Shepard capsule was released to continue coasting upward on its own, and the crew, now weightless, was free to briefly unstrap and float about the cabin.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 20 Dec. 2025
Like a puff of breath on a cold winter day, the cloud of solar material can be seen coasting outward from the sun before thinning, with some of it curling back inward.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 16 Dec. 2025
In the win over Howard, Duke held a 52-18 halftime lead, ultimately coasting to the final score.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
Turns out, the two species were coasting together, hidden in plain sight until one drifted far enough to raise eyebrows.
—Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 13 Nov. 2025
George Russell led the Singapore Grand Prix from start to finish on Sunday, taking his second win of the season by coasting clear of the frantic competition for places behind him.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025
Arne Slot's men had been 2-0 up and coasting, on course for a routine home victory to start the 2025/26 Champions League campaign against Atletico Madrid.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
With the cruise control activated, I-See handles the gear selection, acceleration, engine braking, and coasting to minimize fuel consumption.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2025
Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 21 Dec. 2025
At that point, the New Shepard capsule was released to continue coasting upward on its own, and the crew, now weightless, was free to briefly unstrap and float about the cabin.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 20 Dec. 2025
Like a puff of breath on a cold winter day, the cloud of solar material can be seen coasting outward from the sun before thinning, with some of it curling back inward.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 16 Dec. 2025
In the win over Howard, Duke held a 52-18 halftime lead, ultimately coasting to the final score.
—Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2025
Turns out, the two species were coasting together, hidden in plain sight until one drifted far enough to raise eyebrows.
—Pranjal Malewar, New Atlas, 13 Nov. 2025
George Russell led the Singapore Grand Prix from start to finish on Sunday, taking his second win of the season by coasting clear of the frantic competition for places behind him.
—Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025
Arne Slot's men had been 2-0 up and coasting, on course for a routine home victory to start the 2025/26 Champions League campaign against Atletico Madrid.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
With the cruise control activated, I-See handles the gear selection, acceleration, engine braking, and coasting to minimize fuel consumption.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coasting
Verb
-
The pennies could start flowing again, perhaps easing a shortage in some markets, after the Federal Reserve announced an upcoming shift in the distribution system of old 1-cent coins.—
Susan Tompor,
Freep.com,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Now more diners are flowing through, gazing at the handwritten menu on the wall affixed with neat strips of orange tape, or calling ahead.—
Bill Addison,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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When the King visited Greenland in April—looking jaunty and at ease while cruising on a fjord with the Prime Minister, and taking a coffee-and-cake break with locals at a cultural center in Nuuk—the contrast with Vance’s gloomy trip couldn’t have been starker.—
Margaret Talbot,
New Yorker,
11 Jan. 2026
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Calling on Tracy Arm or Endicott Arm, Wrangell, Rudyerd Bay (Misty Fjords), and, finally, Prince Rupert in British Columbia, the itinerary also includes scenic cruising through Stephens Passage, Decision Passage, Stikine Strait, and the Behm Canal.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While American fans still love sports, younger ones are drifting away from watching full games to consume highlights on social media, so there are reasons to doubt that an old business model based on media rights growth will remain as lucrative.—
Adam Minter,
Twin Cities,
4 Jan. 2026
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By combining this information with precise motion data, the team could identify stars that once belonged to the cluster but are now drifting away.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
After her inaugural season sailing the Caribbean this winter, the Star Princess will make the voyage through the Panama Canal to kick off a series of Alaska cruises in the summer of 2026.—
Mackenzie Schmidt,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
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The sessions will continue in the Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve, a private island sanctuary in the Bahamas, where guests will learn about coral restoration and marine protection, before sailing the turquoise waters with Horn to see the importance of protecting the delicate underwater ecosystems.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Afternoons here are deliciously drowsy, spent dozing in the shade, gently parting calm sea water, or gliding past craggy rock formations in a little motor-boat.—
Rosalyn Wikeley,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Jan. 2026
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That’s why the team turned to look into how these insects transition between jumping, flapping, and gliding.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Coasting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coasting. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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