Synonyms for

Reef

Verb / ri:f / Another word for reef — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

A ridge of rocks, sand, or coral at or near the surface of the water.

Synonyms & similar words

Synonyms by register

Antonyms

Common collocations

  • coral reef
  • barrier reef
  • fringing reef
  • great barrier reef
  • off the reef
  • on the reef
  • navigating the reef

Word family

noun reef
verb re-reef

Usage note

A reef is a submerged ridge of rock, coral, or sand. It is often found in shallow seas and can pose a hazard to shipping.

Example sentences

  1. The sailor was careful to avoid the reef.
  2. The scuba diver saw many different types of fish at the reef.
  3. The waves crashed against the reef.
  4. The boat hit the reef and started to sink.
  5. The reef was home to many different types of sea creatures.

Quotes

  • The ocean is a wilderness reaching round the globe, wilder than a Bengal jungle, and fuller of monsters, washing the very wharves of our cities and the gardens of our sea-side residences. -H. P. Lovecraft
  • I have never seen a river that I could not love. Moving water... has a fascinating vitality. It has power and grace and associations. It has a thousand colors and a thousand shapes, yet it follows laws so definite that the tiniest streamlet is an exact replica of a great river. -Roderick Haig-Brown
  • I have a room all to myself; it is nature. -Henry David Thoreau

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