Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense travels, present participle travelling, past tense, past participle travelledregional note: in AM, use traveling, traveled
1. verb
If you travel, you go from one place to another, often to a place that is far away.
You had better travel to Helsinki tomorrow. [VERB preposition/adverb]
Granny travelled down by train. [VERB preposition/adverb]
I've been traveling all day. [VERB]
Students often travel hundreds of miles to get here. [V amount/n]
I had been travelling at 150 kilometres an hour. [VERB + at]
He was a charming travelling companion. [VERB-ing]
Synonyms: go, journey, proceed, make a journey More Synonyms of travel
travellinguncountable noun
I love travelling.
Getting to and from school involves two hours' travelling a day.
2. uncountable noun
Travel is the activity of travelling.
Information on travel in New Zealand is available at the hotel.
He detested air travel.
...a writer of travel books.
3. verb
If you travel the world, the country, or the area, you go to many different places in the world or in a particular country or area.
Dr Ryan travelled the world gathering material for his book. [VERB noun]
He has had to travel the country in search of work. [VERB noun]
4. verb
When light or sound from one place reaches another, you say that it travels to the other place.
When sound travels through water, strange things can happen. [VERB preposition/adverb]
Light travels at around 300,000,000 metres per second. [VERB + at]
Synonyms: be transmitted, move, advance, proceed More Synonyms of travel
5. verb
When news becomes known by people in different places, you can say that it travels to them.
News of his work traveled all the way to Asia. [VERB adverb/preposition]
Seems like news travels pretty fast around here. [VERB adverb/preposition]
6. plural noun [with poss, usually poss NOUN]
Someone's travels are the journeys that they make to places a long way from their home.
He also collects things for the house on his travels abroad.
Synonyms: journey, wandering, expedition, globetrotting More Synonyms of travel
7. See also much-travelled, travelling, well-travelled
to go, move, or journey through or across (an area, region, etc)
he travelled the country
3.
to go, move, or cover a specified or unspecified distance
4.
to go from place to place as a sales representative
to travel in textiles
5.
(esp of perishable goods) to withstand a journey
6.
(of light, sound, etc) to be transmitted or move
the sound travelled for miles
7.
to progress or advance
8. basketball
to take an excessive number of steps while holding the ball
9.
(of part of a mechanism) to move in a fixed predetermined path
10. informal
to move rapidly
that car certainly travels
11. (often foll by with) informal
to be in the company (of); associate
noun
12.
a.
the act of travelling
b.
(as modifier)
a travel brochure
▶ Related adjective: itinerant
13. (usually plural)
a tour or journey
14.
the distance moved by a mechanical part, such as the stroke of a piston
15.
movement or passage
Word origin
C14 travaillen to make a journey, from Old French travaillier to travail
travel in American English
(ˈtrævəl)
verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈtraveled or ˈtravelled, ˈtraveling or ˈtravelling
1.
to go from one place to another; make a journey or journeys
2.
to go from place to place as a traveling salesman
3.
to walk or run
4.
to move, pass, or be transmitted from one point or place to another
5.
to move or be capable of moving in a given path or for a given distance
said of mechanical parts, etc.
6.
to advance or progress
7. US, Basketball
to illegally move both feet while holding the ball
8. Informal
to associate or spend time (with)
9. Informal
to move with speed
verb transitive
10.
to make a journey over or through; traverse
11. Informal
to cause to move or pass along
noun
12.
the act or process of traveling
13. [pl.]
a.
the trips, journeys, tours, etc. taken by a person or persons
b.
an account of these
14.
passage or movement of any kind
15.
traffic on a route, through a place, etc.
16.
a.
mechanical motion, esp. reciprocating motion
b.
the distance of a mechanical stroke, etc.
Word origin
var. of travail
Examples of 'travel' in a sentence
travel
To look further back, she would have to travel deeper in, past the First Gate or even far beyond it.
Garth Nix LIRAEL: DAUGHTER OF THE CLAYR (2001)
She would travel all over the Kingdom, instead of living the life of a Clayr within the confines of the Glacier.
Garth Nix LIRAEL: DAUGHTER OF THE CLAYR (2001)
My air ticket to London could go onto the tab at the travel agency.
Anita Anderson SOMEBODY (2001)
There was a loud click, then the gate began to travel upwards.
Lisa Scottoline LEGAL TENDER (2001)
Quotations
I'll put a girdle round the earth In forty minutesWilliam ShakespeareA Midsummer Night's Dream
I have recently been all round the world and have formed a very poor opinion of itSir Thomas Beecham
Travel, at its best, is a process of continually conquering disbeliefMichael PalinPole to Pole
Travel is glamorous only in retrospectPaul Theroux
They change their clime, but not their minds, who rush across the seaHoraceEpistles
Whenever I prepare for a journey I prepare as though for deathKatherine MansfieldJournal
A man who has not seen Italy, is always conscious of an inferiority, from his not having seen what it is expected a man should see. The grand object of travelling is to see the shores of the MediterraneanSamuel Johnson
For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to moveRobert Louis StevensonTravels with a Donkey
Airplane travel is nature's way of making you look like your passport photoAl Gore
Travel broadens the mind
In other languages
travel
British English: travel /ˈtrævl/ NOUN
Travel is the act of travelling.
Information on travel in the region is available at the hotel.
American English: travel
Arabic: سَفَر
Brazilian Portuguese: viagem
Chinese: 旅行
Croatian: putovanje
Czech: cestování
Danish: rejse
Dutch: reis
European Spanish: viaje actividad
Finnish: matkustus
French: voyage
German: Reisen
Greek: ταξίδι
Italian: viaggio
Japanese: 旅行
Korean: 여행
Norwegian: reise
Polish: podróż
European Portuguese: viagem
Romanian: călătorie
Russian: путешествие
Latin American Spanish: viaje
Swedish: resa
Thai: การเดินทาง
Turkish: seyahat
Ukrainian: подорож
Vietnamese: sự đi lại
British English: travel /ˈtrævl/ VERB
If you travel, you go from one place to another, often to a place that is far away.
I've been travelling all day.
American English: travel
Arabic: يُسَافِرُ
Brazilian Portuguese: viajar
Chinese: 旅行
Croatian: putovati
Czech: cestovat
Danish: rejse bevæge sig
Dutch: reizen
European Spanish: viajar
Finnish: matkustaa
French: voyager
German: reisen
Greek: ταξιδεύω
Italian: viaggiare
Japanese: 移動する
Korean: 여행하다
Norwegian: reise
Polish: podróżować
European Portuguese: viajar
Romanian: a călători
Russian: путешествовать
Latin American Spanish: viajar
Swedish: resa
Thai: เดินทาง
Turkish: seyahat etmek
Ukrainian: подорожувати
Vietnamese: du lịch
All related terms of 'travel'
air travel
transportation in aircraft
time travel
travel through time into the past or the future
travel book
a book about travelling to a certain country or region, esp a guidebook
travel card
a reusable ticket on more than one journey , route or mode of public transport which is usually valid for a fixed period of time and cheaper than paying for many separate trips
travel film
a filmed documentary showing travel in a certain country or region
travel rep
A travel rep is the same as a → holiday rep .
travel-sick
nauseated from riding in a moving vehicle
travel time
time spent traveling for a job , as from home to work or in the course of business
travel well
If goods such as food products travel well , they can be transported a long way without being damaged or their quality being spoiled .
space travel
travel through space for the purpose of visiting or exploring other worlds
travel agency
A travel agency is a business which makes arrangements for people's holidays and journeys .
travel agent
A travel agent or travel agent's is a shop or office where you can go to arrange a holiday or journey .
travel light
If you travel light , you travel without taking much luggage .
travel-weary
tired or exhausted as a result of travelling
travel writer
A writer is a person who writes books, stories , or articles as a job.
travel agent's
an agency that arranges and negotiates flights , holidays , etc, for travellers
travel brochure
a brochure , often from a travel agency , which advertises holidays , hotels , etc
travel sickness
If someone has travel sickness , they feel sick as a result of travelling in a vehicle.
travel-stained
dirty or soiled as a result of travelling
travel voucher
a voucher , usually bought from a travel agency or won in a competition , etc, which can be used to pay for travel costs such as flights , accommodation , etc
travel insurance
insurance which covers losses that may be incurred while travelling , such as medical expenses , flight cancellations , lost luggage , etc
travel organization
an agency that arranges and negotiates flights, holidays , etc, for travellers
travel-sickness pill
a pill which is used to relieve the symptoms of travel or motion sickness , the condition of being nauseated from riding in a moving vehicle
Chinese translation of 'travel'
travel
(ˈtrævl)
n(u)
(= travelling) 旅行 (lǚxíng)
vi
[person]前往 (qiánwǎng)
[light, sound, news]传(傳)播 (chuánbō)
vt
[distance]走过(過) (zǒuguò)
news travels fast消息传(傳)得快 (xiāoxi chuán de kuài)
this wine doesn't travel well这(這)酒不宜长(長)途运(運)输(輸) (zhè jiǔ bùyí chángtú yùnshū)
to go or journey through or across (an area, region, etc.)
You can travel to Helsinki tomorrow.
Synonyms
go
It took us an hour to go three miles.
journey
She has journeyed on horseback through Africa and Turkey.
proceed
make a journey
move
walk
They walked in silence for a while.
cross
tour
progress
He progressed slowly along the coast in an easterly direction.
wander
He wandered aimlessly around the garden.
trek
trekking through the jungles
voyage
The boat is currently voyaging through the Barents Sea.
roam
They were encouraged not to let their cattle roam freely.
ramble
freedom to ramble across the moors
traverse
I traversed the narrow pedestrian bridge.
rove
roving about the town in the dead of night
take a trip
make your way
wend your way
2 (verb)
Definition
(of light or sound) to be transmitted or carried from one place to another
Light travels at around 300 million metres per second.
Synonyms
be transmitted
move
She waited for him to get up, but he didn't move.
advance
Rebel forces are advancing on the capital.
proceed
She proceeded along the hallway.
get through
3 (verb)
Definition
(of a vehicle) to move rapidly
The horse was really travelling.
Synonyms
go fast
race
They raced away out of sight.
hurry
hasten
She hastened along the landing to her room.
whizz
A car whizzed past.
hurtle
A pretty young girl came hurtling down the stairs.
burn rubber
go hell for leather (informal)
tear along
belt along
bomb along (informal)
whip along
hotfoot it
go like a bat out of hell (informal)
go at breakneck speed
go rapidly
go like (greased) lightning
(noun)
Definition
a tour or journey
He collects things for the house on his travels.
Synonyms
journey
a journey from Manchester to Plymouth
wandering
expedition
Byrd's 1928 expedition to Antarctica
globetrotting
walk
tour
week five of my tour of European cities
touring
movement
trip
On the Thursday we went out on a day trip.
passage
We arrived after a 10-hour passage by ship.
voyage
She aims to follow Amundsen's voyage to Antarctica.
excursion
We also recommend a full day excursion to the Upper Douro.
ramble
an hour's ramble through the woods
peregrination
their wild peregrinations up and down the Rio Grande
related words
related adjectiveitinerant
related maniadromomania
related phobiahodophobia
Quotations
I'll put a girdle round the earth In forty minutes [William Shakespeare – A Midsummer Night's Dream]I have recently been all round the world and have formed a very poor opinion of it [Sir Thomas Beecham]Travel, at its best, is a process of continually conquering disbelief [Michael Palin – Pole to Pole]Travel is glamorous only in retrospect [Paul Theroux]They change their clime, but not their minds, who rush across the sea [Horace – Epistles]Whenever I prepare for a journey I prepare as though for death [Katherine Mansfield – Journal]A man who has not seen Italy, is always conscious of an inferiority, from his not having seen what it is expected a man should see. The grand object of travelling is to see the shores of the Mediterranean [Samuel Johnson]For my part, I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to move [Robert Louis Stevenson – Travels with a Donkey]Airplane travel is nature's way of making you look like your passport photo [Al Gore]
proverb
Travel broadens the mind
Additional synonyms
in the sense of advance
Definition
to make progress
Rebel forces are advancing on the capital.
Synonyms
progress,
proceed,
go ahead,
move up,
come forward,
go forward,
press on,
gain ground,
make inroads,
make headway,
make your way,
cover ground,
make strides,
move onward
in the sense of excursion
Definition
a short outward and return journey, esp. for sightseeing, etc.
We also recommend a full day excursion to the Upper Douro.
Synonyms
trip,
airing,
tour,
journey,
outing,
expedition,
ramble,
day trip,
jaunt,
awayday,
pleasure trip
in the sense of expedition
Definition
an organized journey or voyage, esp. for exploration
Byrd's 1928 expedition to Antarctica
Synonyms
journey,
exploration,
mission,
voyage,
tour,
enterprise,
undertaking,
quest,
trek
Synonyms of 'travel'
travel
Explore 'travel' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of hasten
She hastened along the landing to her room.
Synonyms
rush,
run,
race,
fly,
speed,
tear (along),
dash,
hurry (up),
barrel (along) (informal),
sprint,
bolt,
beetle,
scuttle,
scurry,
haste,
burn rubber (informal),
step on it (informal),
make haste,
get your skates on (informal)
in the sense of hurtle
Definition
to move very quickly or violently
A pretty young girl came hurtling down the stairs.
Synonyms
rush,
charge,
race,
shoot,
fly,
speed,
tear,
crash,
plunge,
barrel (along) (informal),
scramble,
spurt,
stampede,
scoot,
burn rubber (informal),
rush headlong,
go hell for leather (informal)
in the sense of move
Definition
to go or take from one place to another
She waited for him to get up, but he didn't move.
Synonyms
go,
walk,
march,
advance,
progress,
shift,
proceed,
stir,
budge,
make a move,
change position
in the sense of passage
Definition
a journey by ship
We arrived after a 10-hour passage by ship.
Synonyms
journey,
crossing,
tour,
trip,
trek,
voyage
in the sense of peregrination
their wild peregrinations up and down the Rio Grande
Synonyms
journey,
tour,
trip,
exploration,
trek,
expedition,
voyage,
odyssey
in the sense of proceed
Definition
to walk or go
She proceeded along the hallway.
Synonyms
go on,
continue,
advance,
progress,
carry on,
go ahead,
move on,
move forward,
press on,
push on,
make your way,
crack on (informal)
in the sense of progress
Definition
to move forward
He progressed slowly along the coast in an easterly direction.
Synonyms
move on,
continue,
travel,
advance,
proceed,
go forward,
gain ground,
forge ahead,
make inroads (into),
make headway,
make your way,
cover ground,
make strides,
gather way,
crack on (informal)
in the sense of race
Definition
to travel as fast as possible
They raced away out of sight.
Synonyms
run,
fly,
career,
speed,
tear,
dash,
hurry,
barrel (along) (informal),
dart,
gallop,
zoom,
hare (British, informal),
hasten,
burn rubber (informal),
go like a bomb (British, New Zealand, informal),
run like mad (informal)
in the sense of ramble
Definition
to walk for relaxation, sometimes with no particular direction
freedom to ramble across the moors
Synonyms
walk,
range,
drift,
wander,
stroll,
stray,
roam,
rove,
amble,
saunter,
straggle,
traipse (informal),
go walkabout (Australian),
perambulate,
stravaig (Scottish, NorthernEngland, dialect),
peregrinate
in the sense of ramble
Definition
a walk, esp. in the countryside
an hour's ramble through the woods
Synonyms
walk,
tour,
trip,
stroll,
hike,
roaming,
excursion,
roving,
saunter,
traipse (informal),
peregrination,
perambulation
Additional synonyms
in the sense of roam
Definition
to walk about with no fixed purpose or direction
They were encouraged not to let their cattle roam freely.
Synonyms
wander,
walk,
range,
travel,
drift,
stroll,
stray,
ramble,
prowl,
meander,
rove,
stravaig (Scottish, NorthernEngland, dialect),
peregrinate
in the sense of rove
Definition
to wander about (a place)
roving about the town in the dead of night
Synonyms
wander,
range,
cruise,
drift,
stroll,
stray,
roam,
ramble,
meander,
traipse (informal),
go walkabout (Australian),
gallivant,
gad about,
stravaig (Scottish, NorthernEngland, dialect)
in the sense of tour
Definition
an extended journey visiting places of interest along the route
week five of my tour of European cities
Synonyms
journey,
expedition,
excursion,
trip,
progress,
outing,
jaunt,
junket,
peregrination
in the sense of traverse
Definition
to move over or back and forth over
I traversed the narrow pedestrian bridge.
Synonyms
cross,
go across,
travel over,
make your way across,
cover,
range,
bridge,
negotiate,
wander,
go over,
span,
roam,
ply
in the sense of trek
Definition
to make a trek
trekking through the jungles
Synonyms
journey,
march,
range,
hike,
roam,
tramp,
rove,
go walkabout (Australian)
in the sense of trip
Definition
a journey to a place and back, esp. for pleasure
On the Thursday we went out on a day trip.
Synonyms
journey,
outing,
excursion,
day out,
run,
drive,
travel,
tour,
spin (informal),
expedition,
voyage,
ramble,
foray,
jaunt,
errand,
junket (informal),
awayday
in the sense of voyage
Definition
to go on a voyage
The boat is currently voyaging through the Barents Sea.
Synonyms
travel,
journey,
tour,
cruise,
steam,
take a trip,
go on an expedition
in the sense of voyage
Definition
a long journey by sea or in space
She aims to follow Amundsen's voyage to Antarctica.
Synonyms
journey,
travels,
trip,
passage,
expedition,
crossing,
sail,
cruise,
excursion
in the sense of walk
Definition
to pass through, on, or over on foot
They walked in silence for a while.
Synonyms
stride,
wander,
stroll,
trudge,
go,
move,
step,
march,
advance,
pace,
trek,
hike,
tread,
ramble,
tramp,
promenade,
amble,
saunter,
take a turn,
traipse (informal),
toddle,
make your way,
mosey (informal),
plod on,
perambulate,
footslog
in the sense of wander
Definition
to walk about in a place without any definite purpose or destination