kilometre
kih-LOM-ih-tuh
Kilometre (noun) means a metric unit of distance equal to 1,000 metres, abbreviated km. Example: “The nearest town is about ten kilometres away.”
noun
1
A metric unit of distance equal to 1,000 metres, abbreviated km.
"The 34.2 kilometre (21.3 mile) pipeline, which will be built by Qinjin Natural Gas Co, is designed to have annual gas transmission capacity of 3.3 billion cubic metres and connect Ji county in Shanxi and Yichuan county in Shaanxi."
— Muyu Xu, China approves a $55 mln gas pipeline in northern China (2021)
"When you fly over an undammed river like the Fraser I grew up with, the plume of silt spewed into the ocean is astonishing, a good three kilometres of brown refusing to mix with the green of the ocean."
— Brian Harvey, The End of the River (2008)
"The nearest town is about ten kilometres away."
"She runs five kilometres every morning."
How to use kilometre
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA distance measurement equal to 1,000 metres, used almost everywhere in the world except the US.
UK vs US
Spelled "kilometre" in British English and "kilometer" in American English; the US measures road distance in miles instead.
Common pairings
kilometres per hour
a few kilometres away
run a kilometre
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like kilometre.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- kilometres
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The nearest town is about ten _____ away.
Etymology
From French kilomètre, combining Greek khilioi ("thousand") with metron ("measure").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for kilometre
See all rhymes for kilometre →Frequently asked questions
What does “kilometre” mean?
The word “kilometre” means a metric unit of distance equal to 1,000 metres, abbreviated km. In plain terms, a distance measurement equal to 1,000 metres, used almost everywhere in the world except the US.
How do you pronounce “kilometre”?
“Kilometre” is pronounced kih-LOM-ih-tuh (/kɪˈlɑ.mɪ.təɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “kilometre” in a sentence?
Here is “kilometre” used in a sentence: “The nearest town is about ten kilometres away.”
What part of speech is “kilometre”?
“Kilometre” is a noun.
Where does the word “kilometre” come from?
The word “kilometre” comes from French. From French kilomètre, combining Greek khilioi ("thousand") with metron ("measure").
Is “kilometre” a common word?
“Kilometre” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include kilometre:
