coast

1 of 2

noun

ˈkōst 

1

: the land near a shore : seashore

2

obsolete : border, frontier

3

a

: a hill or slope suited to coasting

b

: a slide down a slope (as on a sled)

4

often capitalized : the Pacific coast of the U.S.

5

: the immediate area of view

—used in the phrase the coast is clear

coastal

ˈkō-stᵊl 

adjective

coastwise

ˈkōst-ˌwīz 

adverb or adjective

coast

2 of 2

verb

coasted; coasting; coasts

transitive verb

1

obsolete : to move along or past the side of : skirt

2

: to sail along the shore of

intransitive verb

1

a

archaic : to travel on land along a coast or along or past the side of something

b

: to sail along the shore

2

a

: to slide, run, or glide downhill by the force of gravity

b

: to move along without or as if without further application of propulsive power (as by momentum or gravity)

c

: to proceed easily without special application of effort or concern

coasted through school

—often used with on

a company coasting on its good reputation

Phrases

from coast to coast

: across an entire nation or continent

Synonyms

Verb

• bowl
• breeze
• brush
• cruise
• drift
• flow
• glide
• roll
• sail
• skim
• slide
• slip
• stream
• sweep
• whisk

Examples of coast in a Sentence

Noun

He lives on the coast.

He's flying out to the Coast tomorrow.

Verb

The car coasted to a stop.

The airplane coasted down the runway.

The children coasted on sleds down the snowy hill.

They came coasting down the hill on bicycles.

After taking a big lead, the team coasted to victory.

He was accused of trying to coast through school.

She decided she could coast along without a job for the next few months.

The company is coasting on its good reputation.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The barrier island, about 7 miles off the coast of Georgia, is accessible only by boat or ferry. —Ray Sanchez, CNN, 27 Oct. 2024

Tri-island Tour Three little islands off the coast of General Luna can be visited via the island’s Tri-island Tour. —Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 27 Oct. 2024

Verb

Then in 2020, Morris and Pamela were coasting down a highway in Hamlin Township, Pa., when his trike veered off-road at 55 mph, struck an embankment and rolled over — killing her and seriously injuring him. —Brendan Le, People.com, 23 Oct. 2024

So when Tom Cruise dropped from the sky this summer, landing next to the Hollywood sign, and when a skateboarder coasted down the Venice boardwalk, ending up in Long Beach, few cried foul. —Thomas Curwen, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English cost, from Anglo-French coste, from Latin costa rib, side; akin to Old Church Slavic kostĭ bone

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing coast

• coast guard
• coast redwood
• coast-to-coast
• gold coast
• master chief petty officer of the coast guard
• the coast is clear

Kids Definition

coast

1 of 2 noun

ˈkōst 

1

: the land near a shore : seashore

2

: a slide down a slope (as on a sled)

3

: the present area in view

the coast is clear

coastal

ˈkōst-ᵊl 

adjective

coast

2 of 2 verb

1

: to sail along the shore of

2

a

: to slide downhill by the force of gravity

b

: to move along (as on a bicycle when not pedaling) without applying power

3

: to succeed without special effort

coasted through school