English Reference
noun · verb

shore

n. · v.
US /ˈʃɔɹ/ UK /ʃˈɔː/ shore UK spelling shore's, shore's

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    n.the land along the edge of a sea, lake, or ocean.

    n.the land immediately bordering a large body of water, such as an ocean or lake.

    Simple

    We spent the afternoon walking along the shore looking for shells.

    In context

    The small fishing village was nestled securely along the rocky shore, protected from the harshest Atlantic gales by a natural stone breakwater.

  2. 02 C2 Proficiency Technical

    n.a strong piece of wood or metal used to hold something up.

    n.a prop, strut, or timber placed against or beneath a structure to support a weight or prevent collapse.

    Simple

    The builders used a heavy wooden shore to keep the wall from falling.

    In context

    Engineers placed temporary shores beneath the damaged bridge deck to stabilise the structure while the permanent repairs were being finalised.

  3. 03 B2 Upper Intermediate

    v.to support or strengthen something that is weak or likely to fail.

    v.to support or reinforce a physical structure or a metaphorical system; almost exclusively used as the phrasal verb 'shore up'.

    Simple

    The government took action to shore up the economy after the crisis.

    In context

    The central bank intervened in the currency markets to shore up the value of the pound following a week of intense speculative pressure.

    Usage

    Usually appears as the phrasal verb 'shore up'.

A second lifeguard, Aaron Bohnen, was eventually able to help get them both back to shore at Seabright Beach in Santa Cruz.

The Guardian· 17 Aug 2026

Nearly 800,000 years ago, groups of early humans gathered along the shores of a large lake in what is now northern Israel.

ScienceDaily· 15 Jul 2026
This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Common
Updated