English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun A2 Elementary Common

cruise

krooz

Cruise (noun) means a leisure voyage by ship, often stopping at several ports. Example: “They booked a ten-day cruise around the Mediterranean.”

noun
1
A leisure voyage by ship, often stopping at several ports.
"They booked a ten-day cruise around the Mediterranean."
verb
1
To travel at a steady, comfortable speed without hurrying.
"The plane cruised at 35,000 feet for most of the flight."
"We cruised down the coastal road with the windows down."
2
To win or succeed easily.
"The champions cruised to victory in the final."

How to Use Cruise

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA relaxed sea voyage, or travelling/succeeding at an easy, steady pace.

Common pairings
go on a cruise cruise at a steady speed cruise to victory

Word Forms

cruised past tense, cruises plural, cruises plural, cruises singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “cruise” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

They booked a ten-day _____ around the Mediterranean.

Etymology

From Dutch kruisen ("to cross, sail around"), from kruis ("cross"), ultimately from Latin crux.

Origin: Latin

Related Words

Rhymes for cruise

See all rhymes for cruise →

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “cruise” mean?

The word “cruise” means a leisure voyage by ship, often stopping at several ports. In plain terms, a relaxed sea voyage, or travelling/succeeding at an easy, steady pace.

How do you pronounce “cruise”?

“Cruise” is pronounced krooz (/kɹuz/ in IPA).

How do you use “cruise” in a sentence?

Here is “cruise” used in a sentence: “They booked a ten-day cruise around the Mediterranean.”

What part of speech is “cruise”?

Depending on how it is used, “cruise” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “cruise” come from?

The word “cruise” comes from Latin. From Dutch kruisen ("to cross, sail around"), from kruis ("cross"), ultimately from Latin crux.

Is “cruise” a common word?

“Cruise” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.

How many meanings does “cruise” have?

“Cruise” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a leisure voyage by ship, often stopping at several ports.

What is the difference between a cruise and a voyage?

A cruise is a leisure voyage by ship, often stopping at several ports for enjoyment, while a "voyage" is any long journey by sea or space, whatever its purpose. All cruises are voyages, but a voyage is not necessarily for leisure.

What is the difference between "cruise" and "sail"?

"Sail" broadly means to travel on water, especially by wind power, while "cruise" as a noun is specifically a leisure voyage and as a verb means to move at an easy, steady pace. You sail a small boat but take a cruise on a large ship.

What are common collocations with "cruise"?

Common phrases include "go on a cruise," "cruise ship," "cruise control," and "cruise along." The noun pairs with holiday travel, while the verb pairs with steady, relaxed movement.

People Also Searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial