shore
shaw
Shore (noun) means the land bordering a sea, lake, or other large body of water. Example: “They walked along the shore collecting seashells.”
noun
1
The land bordering a sea, lake, or other large body of water.
"They walked along the shore collecting seashells."
"The ship stayed close to shore during the storm."
"Fishing boats were pulled up onto the shore as the tide came in."
verb
1
To support or reinforce something, usually with "up" — to shore something up against collapse.
"Workers shored up the tunnel walls with timber beams."
"The government tried to shore up confidence in the banks."
"The council plans to shore up the crumbling river wall before winter arrives."
How to use shore
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe edge of land next to water, or (as a verb) to prop something up so it doesn't fail.
Common mistake
"Shore up" almost always means reinforcing something weak, not literally propping timber — it's used constantly in a figurative sense for finances, support, defences, etc.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
along the shore
shore up support
offshore
the shore of the lake
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Word forms
- Plural
- shores
- Third person singular
- shores
- Past tense
- shored
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They walked along the _____ collecting seashells.
Etymology
From Middle English schore, likely from Old English roots meaning a rugged, rocky place — related to the verb "shear" (to cut).
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for shore
See all rhymes for 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.
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