1
a
: a great body of salt water that covers much of the earth
broadly
: the waters of the earth as distinguished from the land and air
b
: a body of salt water of second rank more or less landlocked
the Mediterranean sea
c
: ocean
d
: an inland body of water
—used especially for names of such bodies
the Caspian Sea
2
a
: surface motion on a large body of water or its direction
also
: a large swell or wave
—often used in plural
heavy seas
b
: the disturbance of the ocean or other body of water due to the wind
3
: something likened to the sea especially in vastness
a sea of faces
4
: the seafaring life
5
sea
adjective
Examples of sea in a Sentence
the seas of the Southern Hemisphere
millions of plants and animals live in the sea
Recent Examples on the Web
The experimental aquarium was built in the 1970s, when scooping life from the sea was the only way to acquire research specimens.
—
Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2024
But many of the forces that steer them can be regional and mercurial, such as weather fronts sweeping across the Southeast United States that can push storms back out to sea.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 29 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for sea 
Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2024
But many of the forces that steer them can be regional and mercurial, such as weather fronts sweeping across the Southeast United States that can push storms back out to sea.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 29 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for sea
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sea.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Sea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sea. Accessed 1 Jun. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sea
noun1
a
: a great body of salty water that covers much of the earth
also
: the waters of the earth
b
: a body of salt water not as large as an ocean
the Mediterranean Sea
c
d
: an inland body of water either salt or fresh
the Sea of Galilee
2
: rough water
a high sea swept the deck
3
: something suggesting the sea (as in great size or depth)
a golden sea of wheat
4
: a life involving marine travel
hoped to make a career of the sea
5
sea
adjective
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