shoaled; shoaling; shoals
: to become shallow
1
: to come to a shallow or less deep part of
2
: to cause to become shallow or less deep
Examples of shoal in a Sentence
Adjective
shoal waters of the bay meant that our ship had to be moored a considerable distance from shore
Noun (1)
the shoals off Nantucket Island are famous as the final resting places of many ill-fated ships
Recent Examples on the Web
Julianna Bragg, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2025
These handsome shoaling fish have brilliant black and white vertical stripes.
—Grrlscientist, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
USA Today, 11 June 2025
The pace exhausted the crew, but when a lookout spotted a shoal of sperm whales on the morning of November 20, the sailors lowered and manned the whale boats in pursuit nonetheless.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for shoal
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Verb
Frese noted that this coloration pattern may indicate a shoaling behavior, in which fish gather in loose social groups.
—Julianna Bragg, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2025
These handsome shoaling fish have brilliant black and white vertical stripes.
—Grrlscientist, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
Noun
Visitors willing to climb to the top can experience the breathtaking panoramic view of the island, Cape Fear River, and nearby shoals.
—USA Today, 11 June 2025
The pace exhausted the crew, but when a lookout spotted a shoal of sperm whales on the morning of November 20, the sailors lowered and manned the whale boats in pursuit nonetheless.
—Eli Wizevich, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for shoal
Cite this Entry
“Shoal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shoal. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
shoal
1 of 3 adjective
: shallow entry 1 sense 1
shoal water
shoal
2 of 3 noun1
: a place where a sea, lake, or river is shallow
2
: a sandbank or sandbar just below the surface of the water
shoal
3 of 3 noun
: school entry 3
a shoal of pilot fish
Etymology
Adjective
Old English sceald "shallow"
Noun
Old English scolu "great number"
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