shore
9 synonyms and 2 antonyms for shore, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The land bordering a sea, lake, or other large body of water.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
The land bordering a sea, lake, or other large body of water.
“They walked along the shore collecting seashells.”
Opposites
How to use shore
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
along the shore
shore up support
offshore
the shore of the lake
Etymology
From Middle English schore, likely from Old English roots meaning a rugged, rocky place — related to the verb "shear" (to cut).
Full origin of shore →Frequently asked questions
What does “shore” mean?
The word “shore” means the land bordering a sea, lake, or other large body of water. In plain terms, the edge of land next to water, or (as a verb) to prop something up so it doesn't fail.
How do you pronounce “shore”?
“Shore” is pronounced shaw (/ʃɔɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “shore” in a sentence?
Here is “shore” used in a sentence: “They walked along the shore collecting seashells.”
What part of speech is “shore”?
Depending on how it is used, “shore” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “shore” come from?
The word “shore” comes from Old English. From Middle English schore, likely from Old English roots meaning a rugged, rocky place — related to the verb "shear" (to cut).
Is “shore” a common word?
“Shore” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “shore” have?
“Shore” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the land bordering a sea, lake, or other large body of water.
What is the difference between shore and coast?
Shore refers to the land directly bordering a sea, lake, or other large body of water, and can be used for lakes and rivers as well as oceans. Coast usually refers specifically to the edge of the land where it meets the sea, often describing a wider region. You can stand on the shore of a small lake, but you would speak of the coast of a country facing the ocean.
What is the difference between shore and beach?
Shore is the general land bordering a body of water, whatever its surface. A beach is a specific kind of shore covered in sand or pebbles, shaped by waves. Every beach is a shore, but a rocky or muddy shore is not a beach.
