Definition of beach

Short definition: The beach beach means a place by the sea, lake, or river where there is sand or small stones. People often go there to relax, swim, enjoy the sun, and spend time with family or friends.

Looking for a clear and natural explanation of the word beach? The word beach is most often used to talk about the sandy (or rocky) area beside the sea, where people walk, relax, swim, and watch the waves. But beach can also describe the whole seaside spot as a place to spend time, and it can even be used as a verb—especially when a boat gets pushed onto land. In daily life, beach connects to travel, holidays, nature, and simple moments like taking a quiet walk near the water when you need to clear your mind. Below, each meaning is explained in a relaxed, real-life way with long examples that sound natural in everyday conversations.

Noun forms: beach, beaches
Verb forms: beach, beaches, beaching, beached
Related: beachfront n., beachy adj.
Syllable: beach

1. The sandy or rocky land next to the sea (or a lake), where the water meets the shore.
   We walked along the beach early in the morning when the air was still cool, and the only sounds were the waves, distant birds, and our footsteps in the wet sand.
   The children spent hours on the beach collecting shells and tiny stones, proudly showing each new “treasure” as if they had discovered something rare.
   After the storm, the beach looked completely different, with seaweed scattered everywhere and the sand reshaped into small ridges and pools.

   Synonyms: shoreline, seashore, coast, sandy shore, waterside, lakefront, strand, littoral zone, seafront, shore, coastland, waterfront
   Antonyms: inland, interior, mainland, hinterland, countryside, uplands, backcountry, inner region, landlocked area, high ground, central land, deep inland

2. A seaside place people go to relax, swim, sunbathe, or enjoy a holiday.
   They chose a small beach town for the weekend because it felt slower and calmer, with simple food stalls, quiet streets, and a sunset view that made everything feel lighter.
   On busy days, the beach becomes almost like an outdoor festival, with families bringing snacks, friends taking photos, and vendors walking around selling cold drinks.
   She said she didn’t need a luxury hotel—she just wanted a clean room, good company, and easy access to the beach so she could spend most of her time outside.

   Synonyms: seaside resort, coastal getaway, seaside spot, vacation shore, sea resort, holiday coast, waterfront hangout, seaside area, coastal retreat, seaside destination, resort coast, sea-side place
   Antonyms: city center, downtown, industrial area, business district, factory zone, office quarter, urban core, concrete jungle, metro hub, commercial strip, inner-city area, high-rise district

3. The area of sand (or open shore) where people lie down, place towels, and set up umbrellas.
   They arrived early to get a good spot on the beach, spreading out a big mat and placing their bags carefully so the wind wouldn’t blow sand into everything.
   The lifeguard asked everyone to stay within the marked beach zone, because the currents outside the safe area were stronger than they looked from the surface.
   When the tide came in, the beach seemed to shrink, and people slowly moved their chairs backward, laughing as the water crept closer like a playful surprise.

   Synonyms: sandy stretch, shore area, sandflat, foreshore, bathing area, sunbathing strip, beachfront area, sand strip, open shore, beach zone, coastal strip, tide line area
   Antonyms: deep water, open sea, offshore waters, mid-ocean, deep channel, outer waters, open lake, deep bay, sea depths, offshore zone, open waters, deep currents

4. (Verb) To push or pull a boat onto the shore, or for a boat to end up stuck on land.
   The captain chose to beach the small boat gently before the weather got worse, because it was safer to secure it on land than to leave it bouncing against the dock all night.
   During low tide, the fishing boat was accidentally beached, and the crew had to wait for the water to rise again before they could move it back out.
   They used ropes and teamwork to beach the canoe carefully, making sure the bottom wouldn’t scrape too hard against the rocks near the edge.

   Synonyms: run aground, ground, strand, land ashore, pull ashore, drag onto shore, haul up, ground on sand, bring onto land, set ashore, beach up, drive ashore
   Antonyms: launch, refloat, set sail, push off, depart, unmoor, cast off, put out to sea, float free, dislodge, get underway, sail out

5. (Informal) A time or situation where someone is not working and feels “left out” or idle.
   After the project ended, he felt like he was “on the beach” for a while, not because he wanted to be lazy, but because he was waiting for the next opportunity to appear.
   When the company reorganized, some employees were quietly put “on the beach,” meaning they still had a title but no real tasks, which felt uncomfortable and uncertain.
   She joked that she was “on the beach” this month, using the phrase to explain that she had free time and was taking a break before starting something new.

   Synonyms: idle time, downtime, break, time off, layoff period, sitting on the sidelines, in limbo, out of action, resting period, inactive phase, waiting period, slack time
   Antonyms: busy period, active duty, full workload, heavy schedule, peak season, intense work, nonstop activity, engaged time, productive stretch, working phase, on assignment, in action