shore

shore — noun

1. the narrow strip of dry ground that borders an ocean, a lake, or a very large ri

1.nounA2
Definition

the narrow strip of dry ground that borders an ocean, a lake, or a very large river

Example

Yuna and her brother walked along the shore, collecting seashells in a bucket.

collocation: along the shore

The waves crashed onto the rocky shore near the old lighthouse at dawn.

Common collocations
  • along the shore
  • on the shore
  • reach the shore
  • rocky shore
  • sandy shore
  • shore of the lake
  • distant shore
Synonyms
  • coast

    refers to the larger region along the sea, not just the water's edge

  • beach

    a sandy or pebbly shore specifically used for recreation

  • bank

    used for rivers, not seas or lakes

Antonyms
  • sea

    the water itself, as opposed to the land border

  • ocean

    the open body of water away from land

Grammar Patterns

the + shore

shore of + water body

on/along the shore

Usage Note

Often used with 'the' ('the shore'). For a sandy beach where people swim, 'beach' is more common; 'shore' is a broader term that includes rocky or muddy edges.

Common Mistakes

We swam to the shore to sunbathe.' (if it is a sandy beach).
We swam to the beach to sunbathe.
'shore' does not specifically mean a sandy beach; use 'beach' for recreational swimming areas.

2. the land as a place that is not aboard a ship or boat; used to contrast life or

2.nounB1
Definition

the land as a place that is not aboard a ship or boat; used to contrast life or location at sea with being on land

Example

After six weeks at sea, the crew was eager to spend time on shore.

nautical: on shore (no article)

The captain granted the sailors shore leave for the evening in port.

idiom: shore leave

Common collocations
  • on shore
  • go ashore
  • come ashore
  • shore leave
  • set foot on shore
Synonyms
  • land

    broader term; 'shore' specifically contrasts with being at sea

  • dry land

    informal, emphasizes not being in water

Antonyms
  • sea

    the water, as opposed to being on land

  • aboard

    being on a ship rather than on land

Grammar Patterns

on shore

come/go ashore

set foot on shore

Usage Note

In this sense 'shore' is uncountable and usually takes no article — 'on shore' not 'on the shore.' 'Ashore' (one word) is a common adverb form: 'The sailors went ashore.'

Common Mistakes

The sailors went to the shore for a few hours.' (if meaning off the ship).
The sailors went ashore for a few hours.
'ashore' is the standard adverb; 'on shore' is also correct but less common in active verbs.

3. a country, region, or continent that has a coastline, especially when referred t

3.nounB2
Definition

a country, region, or continent that has a coastline, especially when referred to in a literary or emotional way

Example

Immigrants from many nations have arrived on these shores seeking a new beginning.

literary: these shores

The poet wrote longingly about the distant shores of his childhood homeland.

Common collocations
  • these shores
  • foreign shores
  • our shores
  • distant shores
  • native shores
Synonyms
  • coast

    more literal, less literary; 'coast' does not imply a nation or culture

  • country

    neutral and general; lacks the poetic tone of 'shores'

  • land

    similar literary tone, as in 'foreign lands'

Grammar Patterns

these shores

foreign shores

our shores

Usage Note

Almost always used with a determiner ('these shores', 'our shores', 'foreign shores') in the plural. This sense is formal or literary and rarely appears in everyday conversation.

Idioms

shore leave

idiom

time away from duty on a ship that sailors are allowed to spend on land

The sailors were granted twenty-four hours of shore leave when the ship reached Lisbon.

in shore

idiom

close to the land rather than far out at sea

The fishing boats stayed in shore because a storm was coming from the east.

shore — verb

Word family

  • ashore
    adverbB1
  • onshore
    adjectiveB2
  • offshore
    adjectiveB2
  • shoreline
    nounB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Shore,' 'coast,' 'beach,' and 'bank' all refer to land next to water, but they differ in scale and use. 'Shore' is the most general term — it applies to the edge of any sea, lake, or wide river, whether sandy, rocky, or muddy. 'Coast' refers to the wider region along the sea, often used for geography and maps ('the west coast of Taiwan'). 'Beach' is a specific kind of shore made of sand or pebbles, usually where people swim or relax. 'Bank' is used only for rivers and streams, not for seas or lakes. For example: 'They walked along the shore of the lake' (correct — any edge); 'They sunbathed on the beach' (implies sand); 'The riverbank was muddy after the rain' (river only).

shore ↗coast ↗beach ↗bank ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • shoreline
  • shorebird
  • shoreleave
  • shore patrol
  • shore dinner

Adverbs

Phrases

  • from shore to shore
  • on land and shore

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishGermanicEnglish

The noun 'shore' (land by water) comes from Old English 'scor' or 'sceoru,' likely related to a Germanic root meaning 'to cut' — referring to the division between land and water. The verb 'shore' (to prop up) has a separate origin: it comes from Middle Dutch 'schore' (a support or prop), and entered English through construction trades. These two words are historically unrelated but happen to share the same spelling in modern English.