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onshore

/ɑnˈʃɔr/
/ɒnˈʃɔ/
IPA guide

Use the adjective onshore to describe something that's headed toward the coast from the sea, or that's located on dry land. An onshore wind blows in from the ocean.

An onshore breeze is wonderful on a hot summer day, especially if you can spend that day on the beach. If you're on a boat, a strong onshore wind is something to be concerned about, since it will tend to blow your boat toward the land. The oil industry uses onshore to distinguish between oil rigs and wells that are in the ocean and those that are on the land, or onshore.

Definitions of onshore
  1. adjective
    (of winds) coming from the sea toward the land
    “an onshore gale”
    synonyms: inshore, seaward, shoreward
  2. adjective
    on the edge of the land
    “an onshore lighthouse”
    synonyms:
    terrestrial
    operating or living or growing on land
  3. adverb
    on or toward the land
    “they were living onshore
    see moresee less
    antonyms:
    offshore
    away from shore; away from land
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