noun
C2
Proficient
shoal
shohl
Shoal (noun) means a large group of fish swimming together. Example: “A shoal of mackerel scattered as the seal approached.”
noun
1
A large group of fish swimming together.
"A shoal of mackerel scattered as the seal approached."
"You could see the shoal glinting silver just below the surface."
2
A shallow, often sandy, stretch of water or the sandbank causing it.
"The captain steered wide to avoid the shoal near the harbour mouth."
adj
1
Shallow.
"The boat could only pass at high tide, the water being too shoal otherwise."
How to use shoal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a big group of fish swimming together, or a shallow patch of water/sandbank.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "school" (also correct for fish) or "shoal" the shallow-water sense — context usually makes it clear which is meant.
Easily confused with
shallow →
shole
Common pairings
a shoal of fish
run aground on a shoal
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Word forms
- Plural
- shoals
- Third person singular
- shoals
- Past tense
- shoaled
- Comparative
- shoaler
- Superlative
- shoalest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ of mackerel scattered as the seal approached.
Etymology
From Old English sceald ("shallow"); the fish sense developed as a separate, related word for a shallow gathering of fish.
Related words
Rhymes for shoal
See all rhymes for shoal →Frequently asked questions
What does “shoal” mean?
The word “shoal” means a large group of fish swimming together. In plain terms, either a big group of fish swimming together, or a shallow patch of water/sandbank.
How do you pronounce “shoal”?
“Shoal” is pronounced shohl (/ʃəʊl/ in IPA).
How do you use “shoal” in a sentence?
Here is “shoal” used in a sentence: “A shoal of mackerel scattered as the seal approached.”
What is another word for “shoal”?
Words with a similar meaning to “shoal” include school.
What part of speech is “shoal”?
Depending on how it is used, “shoal” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “shoal” come from?
The word “shoal” comes from Old English. From Old English sceald ("shallow"); the fish sense developed as a separate, related word for a shallow gathering of fish.
How many meanings does “shoal” have?
“Shoal” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large group of fish swimming together.
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