beach

1 of 2

noun

ˈbēch How to pronounce beach (audio)
Synonyms of beach
1
: shore pebbles : shingle
2
a
: a shore of a body of water covered by sand, gravel, or larger rock fragments
b
: a seashore area

beach

2 of 2

verb

beached; beaching; beaches

transitive verb

1
: to run or drive ashore
beaching the landing craft in the assault
The storm damaged and beached half the fleet.
2
: to strand on or as if on a beach
a beached shark

Synonyms of beach

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Noun

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Examples of beach in a Sentence

Noun We spent the day at the beach. she loves walking along the beach, looking for shells that the waves cast up Verb The pirates beached the ship on the island.
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.
Noun
Fresh to strong winds will produce dangerous boating conditions, high surf, life-threatening rip currents, and moderate beach erosion through at least the first half of the coming week, forecasters said. — Felix Rodriguez, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2026 However, eclipse chasers will need to view either from The Rock or its east coast, where elevated viewpoints and beaches face the Mediterranean and the eclipsed sun. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Verb
There is also a Moderate Risk of rip currents expected along the coastal Pender, New Hanover, and Georgetown County beaches. — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2026 Forecasters are warning about dangerous conditions at Southern California beaches this week, with high surf, erosion and possible coastal flooding, as a pair of storms roil warm Pacific waters and send yet more southerly swells toward the shoreline. — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for beach

Word History

Etymology

Noun

origin unknown

Verb

verbal derivative of beach entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

circa 1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1799, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of beach was circa 1552

Phrases Containing beach

Rhymes for beach

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Browse Nearby Words

be-
beach
beach apple
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Cite this Entry

“Beach.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beach. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

beach

1 of 2 noun
ˈbēch How to pronounce beach (audio)
: a sandy or gravelly part of the shore of a body of water

beach

2 of 2 verb
: to run or drive ashore
beach a boat

More from Merriam-Webster on beach

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about beach

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