plural oceans
often attributive
1
a
: the whole body of salt water that covers nearly three fourths of the surface of the earth
The ocean covers most of our planet, regulates our weather and climate, absorbs vast amounts of carbon dioxide, provides most of our oxygen, and feeds much of the human population.National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
b
: any of the large bodies of water into which the great ocean is divided
the oceans of the world
2
: a very large or unlimited quantity or expanse
Could have made oceans of money.James Joyce
He would have oceans of time for his ride.P. G. Wodehouse
Jutting from an ocean of prairie, they [the Sangre de Cristo mountains] run north-south like an iguana spine …Skiing

Examples of ocean in a Sentence

We've sailed across hundreds of miles of ocean. the Pacific and Indian oceans
Recent Examples on the Web Homeowners can opt for an abode that’s either oriented towards the ocean or the Grand Lucayan Waterway. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 11 Mar. 2024 In addition to seafoam shades, other looks evoked the ocean. Maane Khatchatourian, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2024 The rise in drownings hasn’t been limited to the ocean. Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Mar. 2024 No signs have emerged of bottlenecks of new arrivals at Cap-Haïtien or Port-de-Paix, northern port cities that have most often been used as launch sites for ocean journeys. Michael Wilner, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2024 What parents will love Dreaming of a relaxing spa treatment while listening to the sounds of the ocean? Karen Cicero, Parents, 8 Mar. 2024 The United States Coast Guard received a report about 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 7, from the National Response Center about the sheen on the ocean’s surface off Huntington Beach’s coast, said Coast Guard Petty Officer Richard Brahm. Laylan Connelly, Orange County Register, 8 Mar. 2024 Humpback whales are found in oceans around the world, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Don Sweeney, Sacramento Bee, 28 Feb. 2024 Along with patrolling the world's oceans, the ship's primary duties will also include anti-submarine warfare and intelligence-gathering operations. Coleby Phillips, The Arizona Republic, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ocean.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English occean "the sea flowing around the land mass of the known world," borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin Ōceanus, borrowed from Greek Ōkeanós, probably of pre-Greek substratal origin

Note: Preserved variants of Greek Ōkeanós, as Ōgḗn, Ōgenós, Ōgēnós, may indicate that the velar stop, whatever its original voicing, was palatalized (hence *ūkʸān-?)—strongly suggesting non-Indo-European origin. Old attempts to find an Indo-European origin (as a comparison with Sanskrit ā-śayāna- "lying on") are unconvincing.

First Known Use

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of ocean was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near ocean

Cite this Entry

“Ocean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ocean. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ocean

noun
1
: the whole body of salt water that covers nearly three fourths of the surface of the earth
2
: one of the large bodies of water into which the ocean is divided
oceanic
ˌō-shē-ˈan-ik
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on ocean

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