DictionarycoastMovement without power
verb

coast

To move forward without further effort or applied power.

I stop pedaling and coast down the hill on my bike.

Etymology

Old French coste could name a side or slope. Moving down a slope without propulsion supplied the coasting image, later extended to continuing forward on existing momentum.

More examples

  • She takes her foot off the gas and lets the car coast.
  • The sled coasted across the flat snow before stopping.
  • He coasts through classes without studying much.

Forms

coast · coasts · coasted · coasting

Similar words

glide
Emphasizes smooth movement, not necessarily movement without applied power.
drift
Suggests movement guided by currents rather than retained momentum.