at the ocean vs in the ocean

Both phrases are correct, but they're used in different contexts. "At the ocean" is used when referring to being near the ocean or its vicinity, while "in the ocean" talks about being physically inside the water of the ocean.

Explained by Miss E.
Editor at TextRanch

Last updated: February 26, 2025 • 6188 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English when referring to being near the ocean or its vicinity.

"at the ocean"

Use "at the ocean" when you want to indicate a location near the ocean or in its vicinity.

Examples:

We had a picnic at the ocean.
The hotel is located at the ocean.
The children played at the ocean's edge.
She loves to sit and read at the ocean.
The restaurant has a beautiful view at the ocean.

Show examples from the web [+]

We're at the ocean. It's twilight.
I could see him from the porch, barking out at the ocean.
I like to cry at the ocean, because only there do my tears seem small.
It's like being on a giant wave at the ocean and the thing's just tickling your back, same thing up there.
We're at the ocean.
He means he's got this sudden notion to stand on dry land, but just panhandle at the ocean.
We could go and look at the ocean.
He'd stand there, just staring at the ocean.
So... my dad stood in this same spot, staring out at the ocean.
Babe, that's how things went bad at the ocean race.
I just sat on the beach for a while, looking out at the ocean.
Good he wasn't down at the ocean today.
We look at the ocean as a source of infinite quality seafood, and I think we're learning some hard lessons that this isn't true.
I'd stand out here on the beach for hours... Looking at the ocean.
You'd look at the ocean and count the mermaids.
because when an ecologist looks at the ocean,
Either you look at the ocean or Emily's house.
God, it must be such a trip to look at the ocean and know you can draw it.
When I thought that Sara died on "The Gambit," the only thing that I could do was scream at the ocean.
I've looked at the ocean Tried hard to imagine

Alternatives:

by the ocean
near the ocean
next to the ocean
along the ocean
close to the ocean

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English when referring to being physically inside the water of the ocean.

"in the ocean"

Use "in the ocean" when you want to indicate being inside the water of the ocean.

Examples:

The divers explored the coral reef in the ocean.
There are many different species of fish in the ocean.
She loves to swim in the ocean.
The shipwreck is located deep in the ocean.
The submarine dove deep in the ocean.

Show examples from the web [+]

Aug 23, 2011 ... Our results suggest that some 86% of the species on Earth, and 91% in the ocean, still await description. Closing this knowledge gap will ...
... we have to work on a combination of closing the source and cleaning up what has already accumulated in the ocean and doesn't go away by itself.
Sep 12, 2019 ... Predicted global figures for plastic debris accumulation in the ocean surface layer range on the order of hundreds of thousands of metric ...
Feb 26, 2021 ... The number of species that live in the ocean is unknown. ... While scientists estimate that 91 percent of ocean species have yet to be classified, ...

Alternatives:

under the ocean
underwater
submerged in the ocean
beneath the ocean's surface
below the ocean

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at the ocean vs in the ocean

"at the ocean"

"in the ocean"

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