What does coasted mean?
"Coasted" is the past tense and past participle of the verb "to coast," meaning to move forward smoothly and without active propulsion — as when a bicycle rolls downhill or a car glides with its engine disengaged. By extension, it describes making progress with little visible effort: a student might coast through an easy class, or a leading athlete might coast to victory once the outcome seems assured. The word carries two shades of feeling. In its literal sense it is neutral and descriptive; in its figurative sense it often implies a lack of ambition or a reliance on earlier success, so calling someone's work "coasting" is usually a mild criticism. The term derives from the noun "coast," ultimately from the Latin "costa" (rib or side), reflecting the older sense of traveling along a shoreline. It remains common in everyday speech on both sides of the Atlantic.
verbPast tense and past participle of "coast": to move forward without effort, especially downhill or in a vehicle with the engine off or idling; figuratively, to progress with little effort or without trying hard.
- To move without power or effort, e.g. letting a vehicle roll downhill with the engine off or disengaged.
- To make progress or succeed with minimal effort, often implying a lack of ambition or exertion (sometimes derogatory).
- (Of an athlete or team) to win easily or conserve effort during a competition.
"The car coasted down the hill, its engine silent."
"After the engine cut out, the car coasted silently to the shoulder of the road."
"He coasted through his final year of university without ever opening a textbook before the night before an exam."
"Up three goals by halftime, the champions simply coasted through the second half."
When you coast, you're literally borrowing momentum from a hill — the word comes from the Latin 'costa' (rib, side), which gave us both coastline and that effortless glide.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of coasted
"Coasted" derives from the verb "coast," formed from the noun "coast," which entered Middle English from Old French "coste" (side, shore), ultimately from Latin "costa" meaning rib or side. The nautical sense — sailing along a coastline — came first, appearing in English by the late Middle Ages. The modern senses of gliding effortlessly and progressing without exertion developed later, becoming well established by the nineteenth century. Cognates include French "côte" (coast) and Italian "costa."
Related word forms
How coasted is actually used
The figurative sense — doing the minimum required — often carries a mildly negative connotation, suggesting laziness or complacency. The literal sense is neutral. Common in both British and American English across registers.
Easily confused with coasted
"Cost" means the price or expense of something, while "coasted" is the past tense of the verb meaning to glide or proceed effortlessly.