ocean

noun

ˈō-shən 

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

Synonyms

• blue
• brine
• deep
• Neptune
• sea
• seven seas

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

Due to the nuclear revolution (and also due to the width of the Pacific and Atlantic oceans) there is no plausible scenario under which China or Russia could disarm and conquer the United States, or vice versa. —Shane Croucher, Newsweek, 7 Dec. 2024

To be more specific, the rapid surge in warming was supercharged by a dearth of low-lying clouds over the oceans, according to the research — findings which may have alarming implications for future warming. —Laura Paddison, CNN, 5 Dec. 2024

The hotel offers a range of engaging activities, such as paint-and-sip, where guests can unleash their creativity while sipping on drinks and soaking in the breathtaking ocean views at sunset. —Linda Konde, Travel + Leisure, 5 Dec. 2024

The witness also reportedly said the abductors threw Eastman's body into the ocean, however, police are yet to find a body during their search efforts. —Kirsty Hatcher, People.com, 5 Dec. 2024

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

Phrases Containing ocean

• a drop in the ocean
• inter-ocean
• mid-ocean ridge
• ocean perch
• ocean sunfish
• open ocean

Kids Definition

ocean

noun

ˈō-shən 

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