journey
JUR-nee
Journey (noun) means a trip from one place to another, especially a long one. Example: “The journey from London to Edinburgh took about five hours.”
noun
1
A trip from one place to another, especially a long one.
"The journey from London to Edinburgh took about five hours."
"They packed light for the journey through the mountains."
"Our journey to the coast was slow because of heavy traffic on the motorway."
2
A long process of change or development, often difficult, likened to travelling somewhere.
"Recovery has been a long journey for him."
"Her journey to becoming a doctor took over a decade."
"Learning to forgive was an emotional journey that changed how she saw her family."
verb
1
To travel somewhere, especially over a distance.
"They journeyed across the desert for three days."
"Every summer the family journeys north to visit their grandparents by the sea."
"Traders once journeyed for weeks along the old roads to reach the market town."
How to use journey
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA trip, or figuratively a long process of change or growth.
Common pairings
a long journey
go on a journey
journey of self-discovery
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Word forms
- Plural
- journeys
- Third person singular
- journeys
- Past tense
- journeyed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ from London to Edinburgh took about five hours.
Etymology
From Old French journee ("a day's travel"), from Latin diēs ("day") — a journey originally meant the distance you could cover in one day.
Related words
Rhymes for journey
See all rhymes for journey →Frequently asked questions
What does “journey” mean?
The word “journey” means a trip from one place to another, especially a long one. In plain terms, a trip, or figuratively a long process of change or growth.
How do you pronounce “journey”?
“Journey” is pronounced JUR-nee (/ˈd͡ʒɝni/ in IPA).
How do you use “journey” in a sentence?
Here is “journey” used in a sentence: “The journey from London to Edinburgh took about five hours.”
What is another word for “journey”?
Words with a similar meaning to “journey” include fare, sith and trip.
What part of speech is “journey”?
Depending on how it is used, “journey” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “journey” come from?
The word “journey” comes from Latin. From Old French journee ("a day's travel"), from Latin diēs ("day") — a journey originally meant the distance you could cover in one day.
Is “journey” a common word?
“Journey” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “journey” have?
“Journey” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a trip from one place to another, especially a long one.
What is the difference between a journey and a trip?
A trip usually means going somewhere for a purpose and coming back, often short, like a shopping trip. A journey emphasises the act of travelling itself, especially over a long distance or time. Journey also works figuratively for personal growth, whereas trip rarely does.
What is the difference between a journey and a voyage?
A voyage is a long journey made by sea or through space, so we speak of an ocean voyage or a space voyage. A journey is the general word and usually suggests travel over land. Every voyage is a journey, but not every journey counts as a voyage.
Can journey be used figuratively?
Yes, very commonly. Beyond physical travel, journey describes any long process of change or development — a career journey, a healing journey, or life's journey. Used this way it highlights the experiences, challenges, and growth along the route rather than simply arriving at a fixed destination.
What is an example of a journey?
A journey can be a train ride across a country, a long drive between cities, or a flight to another continent. Historic examples include explorers crossing oceans or pioneers travelling overland for months. Figuratively, someone's journey from beginner to expert in a craft is also described this way.
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