Meaning & use

ocean

noun·Everyday

One of the huge bodies of salt water covering most of Earth's surface.

See it in a sentence

The ship sailed across the Atlantic Ocean for nearly two weeks.

Scientists estimate that most of the ocean floor remains unexplored.

A note on using this word

There are five recognized oceans; 'sea' is often used informally in the same way, though seas are technically smaller, partly enclosed bodies of water.

Words with a similar meaning

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “ocean”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.