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
With its high design, beach club and scenery rooftop, La Roqqa is set to become a hive of beautiful Italians and in the know travelers who want the sexiness of the riviera without the masses. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Sep. 2026 The weather service in San Francisco issued a beach hazards statement warning of 10-foot waves and strong rip currents beginning Friday morning through Monday evening. — Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Verb
The property is just a five-minute walk from the Côte des Basques beach (one of the best beginner-friendly surf beaches in the city), and close to the restaurants and bars of the Beaurivage neighborhood (known locally as ‘Bibi’). — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 31 July 2026 Now a Category 4 hurricane and moving northwest with sustained winds of about 155 mph, Genevieve is expected to generate up to 11-foot swells by Wednesday afternoon along San Diego County beaches that face south and southwest. — Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 28 July 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

See All Rhymes for beach

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 4 Sep. 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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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