caravan
KA-ruh-van
Caravan (noun) means a group of people, often with vehicles or pack animals, travelling together, especially across a desert. Example: “A caravan of traders crossed the desert on the old Silk Road.”
noun
1
A group of people, often with vehicles or pack animals, travelling together, especially across a desert.
"A caravan of traders crossed the desert on the old Silk Road."
"The camel caravan stopped at the oasis to rest and drink."
"Merchants joined the caravan for safety as it moved across the dunes."
2
A vehicle towed by a car and used as a home while travelling, especially in British English.
"They spent the summer touring the coast in a caravan."
"Dad hitched the caravan to the car and we set off for the campsite."
"Our caravan has a tiny kitchen and two narrow bunk beds."
verb
1
To travel together as a group, often in vehicles.
"The family caravanned down to the coast with two other families."
"Several friends caravanned across the country to see the festival together."
"We caravanned in convoy so nobody would get lost on the way."
How to use caravan
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA group travelling together, or (mainly UK) a towable home-on-wheels.
UK vs US
In British English, "caravan" usually means what Americans call a "trailer" or "travel trailer."
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Word forms
- Plural
- caravans
- Third person singular
- caravans
- Past tense
- caravanned, caravaned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ of traders crossed the desert on the old Silk Road.
Etymology
From Persian karvan via French, originally describing groups of merchants or pilgrims travelling together by camel or horse for safety.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for caravan
See all rhymes for caravan →Frequently asked questions
What does “caravan” mean?
The word “caravan” means a group of people, often with vehicles or pack animals, travelling together, especially across a desert. In plain terms, a group travelling together, or (mainly UK) a towable home-on-wheels.
How do you pronounce “caravan”?
“Caravan” is pronounced KA-ruh-van (/ˈkæɹəvæn/ in IPA).
How do you use “caravan” in a sentence?
Here is “caravan” used in a sentence: “A caravan of traders crossed the desert on the old Silk Road.”
What part of speech is “caravan”?
Depending on how it is used, “caravan” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “caravan” come from?
The word “caravan” comes from French. From Persian karvan via French, originally describing groups of merchants or pilgrims travelling together by camel or horse for safety.
Is “caravan” a common word?
“Caravan” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “caravan” have?
“Caravan” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a group of people, often with vehicles or pack animals, travelling together, especially across a desert.
What is the difference between a caravan and an RV?
In British English, a caravan is a vehicle towed behind a car and used as a home while travelling, similar to what American English calls a travel trailer. An RV, or recreational vehicle, is usually self-powered rather than towed, combining the living space and the engine in a single vehicle.
What does caravan mean when referring to a group of travellers?
A caravan can also mean a group of people, often with vehicles or pack animals such as camels, travelling together, especially across a desert. This older sense of the word is where the meaning of a towed travel vehicle later developed from, since both involve a group moving together as a unit.
Can caravan be used as a verb?
Yes, to caravan means to travel together as a group, often in a line of vehicles, as in "the convoy caravanned across the country." This verb use is common in everyday speech to describe coordinated group travel by car.
